A 6-foot-9, 270-pound bouncer accused of knocking a man to the ground outside an Oceanside bar, resulting in his death two days later, must stand trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter, assault with great bodily injury and battery, a judge ruled Monday.
Derrick Lamont Belser, 40, surrendered to police in February in connection with the Dec. 28 altercation outside the Fire Water Saloon in the 300 block of North Tremont Street.
Belser allegedly knocked Oceanside resident Mark Girard, 27, to the ground at the back entrance of the bar. Girard, a heavy equipment operator, struck his head on the ground when he fell, according to police.
Paramedics were called to an apartment 18 hours later and found Girard unconscious, according to the Oceanside Police Department. He was hospitalized but died two days later. According to a published obituary, Girard had recovered from a brain tumor 12 years ago.
After a two-day preliminary hearing, Vista Superior Court Judge Timothy Casserly found that enough evidence was presented for Belser to proceed to trial July 13. The defendant — who is also charged with misdemeanor battery involving a second victim — faces nine years in state prison if convicted.
— City News Service
