A judge ordered an ex-con on May 10 to stand trial for murder in the stabbing death of a man who was killed in a Pacific Beach restroom in 2020 for no apparent reason.

Deputy District Attorney Jeffrey Dort said Martin Alvarez, Jr., 35, never spoke to Michael Wagley, 39, before he slashed him with a knife and there is no connection between the men.

A witness inside the bathroom at 700 Grand Ave. and Ocean Boulevard testified Alvarez said nothing before stabbing Wagley in the neck. He told San Diego Superior Court Judge Kenneth So the defendant then stabbed Wagley 2-3 times while down on the floor on Aug. 16, 2020, around 7:35 p.m.

Dr. Steven Campman, from the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office, testified the cause of death was multiple stab wounds to the neck.

Video surveillance camera footage was shown in court of Alvarez’s flight on a bicycle from the restroom. Some boys on skateboards were seen following him.

One juvenile testified with his father in the courtroom, saying Alvarez rode off on his bicycle very fast but he did see him with a knife. The boy said he tried to follow him.

Police officers later found Alvarez and nearby was a knife that had blood on it, said Dort.

So set a trial date for Dec. 5. Alvarez pleaded not guilty at the end of the hearing.

Alvarez previously was convicted of robbery at a Macy’s store in 2017. He was sentenced to 32 months in prison in 2019 after he pleaded guilty to grand theft when he stole an expensive bicycle valued at over $950.

He was released early on the latter charge because of the spread of COVID-19 in prisons. Alvarez had failed to report to post-release community supervision as required.

Alvarez remains in the South Bay Detention Facility on $5 million bail.