A murder suspect has also been ordered to stand trial for robbing an adult video store in the Midway area the night before the homicide occurred in another robbery that was eerily similar.
Evidence was presented during a two-day preliminary hearing for Kevin Eugene Cartwright, 52, about the slaying of Ghedeer “Tony” Radda, 51, in a robbery at Bottom Price Flooring at 1015 G St. in downtown San Diego on Oct. 10, 2018.
Deputy District Attorney Matthew Greco presented store surveillance camera footage at the flooring store and at the Adult Depot, located at 3487 Kurtz St. A masked bandit at both stores could be seen coming inside with a gun.
San Diego Police Detective Matthew Condon testified he interviewed the clerk at the Adult Depot store who said the robber told him to go to the back of the store or be killed. Surveillance photos show a masked man with blue gloves and a pistol stealing money from a cash register at 5:30 a.m. on Oct. 9, 2018.
Surveillance photos show a woman, Lorena DelCarmen Espinoza, 35, entering the flooring store while wearing a purple wig. Radda goes to the back of this store with her as she looks at merchandise, and a man believed to be Cartwright enters the store while wearing an old lady mask and is holding a gun.
The robber surprises Radda and shoots him three times off-camera in the store, the video shows.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Fred Link ruled Sept. 6 that Cartwright should stand trial for murder and robbery in the flooring store and robbery of Adult Depot. Link also orders Espinoza to stand trial for murder as well.
Special circumstance allegations have been filed against Cartwright and Espinoza alleging they committed murder during a robbery and burglary. Greco said his office has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty against Cartwright or a life sentence in prison without parole.
Cartwright and Espinoza will next appear in court on Sept. 18. They have pleaded not guilty and both remain in jail.
