LAKEPORT — A deputy district attorney filed a motion Friday excluding the judge who was to hear a murder trial Tuesday against a Clear Lake Riviera man, pushing the trial out three weeks.
John Gray, 44, will return to court 8:15 a.m. Aug. 20 in Department 2 for trial assignment and 8:15 a.m. Aug. 24 for his jury trial.
Gray allegedly bludgeoned his roommate, Eric Joaquin, to death Feb. 28, 2009 in Gray”s house in Clear Lake Riviera. Judge Arthur Mann granted deputy district attorney Art Grothe”s motion, leaving the court with no judge available to hear the case until later this month. On the day Joaquin”s body was found, officers found Gray at his girlfriend”s house in Clear Lake Riviera and arrested him. Gray pleaded not guilty in July. In September, Gray”s family offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person they believe to be the actual perpetrator. Grothe also filed a draft of jury questions and an exhibit list on Friday. Gray is being held at the Lake County Jail on $500,000 bail.
