A couple was ordered Friday to stand trial for murder in the beating death of a Pacific Beach man who was attacked in his motel room on April 14.
Joaquin Tuttle, 40, was hospitalized after an intruder severely beat him in the San Diego Motel on Mission Bay Drive, but he died at Scripps La Jolla Hospital on April 21 from blunt force trauma and contributing conditions.
Cameron Matthew Parker, 29, and Samantha Grace Passmore, 24, were also staying at the same motel, but security camera footage showed them leaving quickly after Tuttle was stabbed and beaten.
Testimony in the preliminary hearing took up most of Friday before San Diego Superior Court Judge Kathleen Lewis and she ordered them both to next appear in court on August 22.
Attorney Monique Carter, who represents Passmore, argued that she not be held to answer for murder, saying surveillance cameras showed she only paused four seconds looking inside at Tuttle’s motel room before leaving.
“She simply opened the door. She’s not responsible and she’s not culpable,” said Carter.
Deputy District Attorney Melissa Vasel said Tuttle was killed as a result of a burglary of his motel room and the felony murder rule applied in which all participants should be held accountable.
Carter said Passmore had “no meaningful relationship” with Parker and had only been together a week. They stayed in the same room.
Lewis said the quick flight by the couple was evidence of fleeing the scene of a crime. She found probable cause to order them both to stand trial for murder.
Tuttle’s girlfriend testified Passmore threatened her 7-8 times after he was stabbed and hospitalized. The girlfriend, whose name is being withheld at the request of the prosecutor, testified Passmore told her to delete all her text messages from her about Tuttle.
San Diego Police officer Michah Vanesler testified Tuttle told him in the hospital he didn’t know the muscular man who beat him, but he might have been “a jealous boyfriend” of a woman.