LAKEPORT — Attorneys agreed to continue a murder trial against a Clear Lake Riviera man set to start Tuesday because there are no judges available to hear the case.
John Gray, 44, will return to court Sept. 17 for a trial readiness conference and Sept. 21 for his jury trial.
Gray allegedly bludgeoned his roommate, Eric Joaquin, to death Feb. 28, 2009 in Gray”s house in Clear Lake Riviera.
Defense and prosecution reached an agreement out of court. Gray had previously been set to go to trial Aug. 10 but on Aug. 6, deputy district attorney Art Grothe filed a motion excluding the judge who was to hear the murder trial and the date was pushed back two weeks.
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 2009.
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.
Gray is being held at the Lake County Jail on $500,000 bail.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
