A judge on Tuesday delayed the preliminary hearing of a Chula Vista double murder suspect until Jan. 10, 2017 and also set an Oct. 17 hearing for his attorney to argue his statements to police should be inadmissible in court.
Luiz Alberto “Pelon” Ruiz, 28, is accused of killing Roberto Soria, 25, on July 10, 2015, at 11 p.m. and with killing Pamela Burgos, 24, an hour later outside a house party in Chula Vista.
The attorney for Ruiz wants to challenge whether his client’s statements to police can be admitted as evidence and testimony will be taken in Chula Vista Superior Court at the motion hearing.
Soria was shot to death in the 2600 block of Gould Lane in the Palm City neighborhood. A 22-year-old man with him was wounded and Ruiz is also charged with attempted murder.
Burgos, who was also known as Luiaza Burgos De La Torre, was shot along Quintard Street as she walked with a male companion, who was not injured.
Ruiz is a documented gang member who was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon in 2010 in a stabbing and resisting arrest in 2015 when he punched a police officer several times. He is from Chula Vista.
Special circumstances of committing multiple murders and participation in a criminal street gang murder have been filed against Ruiz, which means the District Attorney’s office can either seek the death penalty or a life term in prison without parole if he’s convicted. No decision has been made about penalty.
Ruiz, who has pleaded not guilty and waived his right to have a speedy hearing, remains in jail without bail.
