Judge clears accused Fresno killer to face trial for death of unhoused man

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The execution lawsuit against accused slayer Johnny Hines volition present caput to trial.

"There's probable origin to judge the suspect committed the discourtesy charged successful Count 1," Fresno County Superior Court Judge Brian Alvarez said connected Thursday.

Judge Alvarez cleared the mode for Hines to look a assemblage aft Fresno Police Detective Allison Lopez said, nether oath, that Hines admitted to kicking 66-year-old Frank Placencia extracurricular the Fresno Mission successful August 2023.

"He enactment connected steel-toed boots due to the fact that helium felt similar they'd person much of an effect," Lopez said.

Responding serviceman Jose Sanchez described a graphic scene.

"He was breathing, but, again, erstwhile I tried asking him questions, helium wasn't responding to me," Sanchez said astir the victim.

At slightest 2 witnesses saw the onslaught -- that lasted for astir a infinitesimal -- from crossed the street.

Mission residents told Action News the unit sent daze and fear.

"We person to locomotion by present each time to get successful with our families and stuff, truthful yeah, it's not safe," a pistillate said astatine the time.

Hines is simply a high-security inmate and has maintained his innocence.

His defence did not contiguous immoderate grounds Thursday, but suggested Hines was a unfortunate aft Placencia stole.

But Detective Adam Estrada painted a unsafe picture.

"He fundamentally told maine helium preys connected anemic individuals," Estrada said.

Action News learned Hines rejected a colony connection from prosecutors successful which helium would person pleaded blameworthy to second-degree execution and faced 15 years to beingness successful prison.

He could look betwixt 26 years and beingness successful situation if convicted astatine trial.

For quality updates, travel Gabe Ferris connected Facebook, X and Instagram.