Testimony Begins in Trial for Murder of a Ramona Native

Testimony got underway Monday in a preliminary hearing for two defendants accused in the fatal stabbing of a 34-year-old man, who grew up in Ramona, during a fight in Chollas Creek.

Michael Vincent Reyes, 30, of El Cajon and Francisco Jose Arellano, 32, of Chula Vista are charged with first-degree murder in the September 2012 death of Michael Gabriel "Gabe" Hallman.

Testimony will resume Tuesday morning. At the end of the hearing, Judge Jeffrey Fraser will decide whether enough evidence was presented to order the defendants to stand trial.

Shortly after 5:30 a.m. on Sept. 30, 2012, patrol officers responding to a report of an assault in the 5000 block of Sterling Court found Hallman in front of a home in the area, suffering from stab wounds. Paramedics took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead about an hour later.

The defendants were each already in custody for alleged parole violations when they were re-booked in December on suspicion of murdering Hallman. San Diego police said the victim and the defendants apparently got into a fight during a social gathering of some kind.

Hallman was a licensed massage therapist who grew up in Ramona, but last lived in City Heights. He is survived by his young daughter.