Man will stand trial after running down a man with car
EL CAJON (CNS) – A 19-year-old Spring Valley resident accused of running down a man with a car during a confrontation that began at a fast-food restaurant near Cuyamaca College must stand trial on a murder charge, a judge ruled Thursday.
Darius Risberg Watkins is charged in the death of 26-year-old Jorge Alberto-Rocha Osuna of National City, who was placed on life support at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego after being struck around 2:30 a.m. June 16. He died two days later.
Authorities allege that Watkins got into a confrontation with Osuna in a drive-thru lane at a McDonald’s restaurant on Avocado Boulevard in Rancho San Diego.
Osuna and a companion were waiting for a food order when two other vehicles pulled in behind them. A man exited one of the newly arrived cars and started banging on the windows of the business and on Osuna’s vehicle, prompting Osuna and his companion to get out and confront him, according to authorities.
After an ensuing argument turned physical, Osuna and his companion got back into their vehicle and drove to their nearby home in the 3600 block of Avocado Village Court, followed by the two other vehicles.
Watkins, who was on probation for resisting arrest, was allegedly the driver of one of those vehicles and revved its engine and swerved past Osuna, who was by then outside of his vehicle. Watkins then allegedly backed up and rammed Osuna, pinning him up against a wall and leaving him with broken bones and serious head trauma.
The defendant fled the scene but later surrendered to authorities.
Following a two-day preliminary hearing, Judge John Thompson found that enough evidence was presented for Watkins to proceed to trial. A Superior Court arraignment is set for Jan. 29.
