A woman pleaded guilty Friday to voluntary manslaughter in the beating death of an acquaintance in a Pacific Beach motel.
A murder charge was dismissed against Samantha Grace Passmore, 24, after she pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the April 21 death of Joaquin Tuttle, 40.
Meanwhile, the murder trial of co-defendant Cameron Matthew Parker, 29, was confirmed Friday for Jan. 16, 2018. Parker is alleged to have fought with Tuttle and causing his injuries.
Deputy District Attorney Melissa Vasel said Passmore is expected to receive seven years in prison when she is sentenced by San Diego Superior Court Judge Michael Groch.
Vasel said Passmore agreed to serve the 7-year term when she pleaded guilty. Sentencing is set for Jan. 11.
A security camera at the San Diego Motel at 4780 Mission Bay Drive caught a glimpse of Passmore looking into Tuttle’s motel room for four seconds before turning away, according to testimony.
It was believed at that moment Parker was fighting and stabbing Tuttle on April 14. He was hospitalized at Scripps La Jolla, but died there on April 21 from blunt force trauma injuries.
A pathologist testified earlier that Tuttle had four rib fractures, stab wounds, a history of renal disease, and had used methamphetamine in the past. He said the cause of death was homicide because of the blunt force trauma injuries.
A police officer testified Tuttle told him in the hospital that it was possible his attacker, whom he did not know, was the jealous boyfriend of a woman he knew.
Tuttle said his attacker threw a microwave oven at him, striking his head, the officer said. Tuttle’s girlfriend testified at the Aug. 11 preliminary hearing that Passmore had threatened her 7-8 times.
Parker and Passmore were arrested for murder on April 25 where they were staying at a Mission Valley motel.
Parker has pleaded not guilty and remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility on $1 million bail. Passmore remains in the Las Colinas Women’s Detention Facility without bail.