Property manager accused of fatally beating prominent architect charged with murder

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – A property manager accused of fatally beating his
boss, a prominent architect, during a fight at a party at the victim's Bankers
Hill home was charged Friday with murder.

Higinio Soriano Salgado, 31, was initially charged Tuesday with
attempted murder because the victim, 56-year-old Graham Downes, had not been
declared legally dead.

Downes died Wednesday after being taken off life support.

Salgado allegedly inflicted major head injuries on Downes about 1 a.m.
last Friday during a party at the victim's home in the 200 block of West
Juniper Street.

Patrol officers responding to a reported disturbance found the two men
on the ground in front of the architect's residence. Downes was unconscious
with severe facial and head injuries.

At the defendant's initial arraignment, Deputy District Attorney Amy
Maund told Judge David Szumowski that Salgado, a property manager for the
victim's company, beat Downes, fracturing his skull in several places.

The prosecutor successfully argued that Salgado be held on $3 million
bail, telling the judge that the defendant was a potential flight risk because
he has ties to Mexico and is building a home there.

Salgado will be back in court May 29 for a readiness conference and June
11 for a preliminary hearing.

Graham Downes Architecture is well known for its work at several local
hotels and restaurants, including Tom Ham's Lighthouse, the Bali Hai, Hotel La
Jolla and the Hard Rock Hotel.