A man accused of fatally stabbing an acquaintance at a home in Clairemont must stand trial on a murder charge, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Brandon Ingram — who has a 2012 robbery conviction — faces 50 years to life in prison if convicted in the death of 31-year-old Brandon Labastida.
San Diego police Lt. Shawn Takeuchi testified during a two-day preliminary hearing that Labastida’s sister — whose husband is Ingram’s brother — told him that Ingram and her brother had a strained relationship and did things that she didn’t agree with, including drugs, and she kept the two men away from her two young daughters.
Deputy District Attorney Meredith Claterbos said that after midnight on Nov. 21, Ingram went to a home on Channing Street, near Limerick Avenue, where the victim was known to hang out.
Labastida answered Ingram’s knock on the front door and an altercation ensued, and the defendant was hit in the head with a screen door, according to Claterbos. Ingram allegedly pulled out a 12-inch-long knife and stabbed the victim once in the upper body, severing his aorta, the prosecutor said.
Others in the house called 911 and Labastida was rushed to a hospital, where he died about 40 minutes later.
Ingram, 32, fled the scene, tried to hide the knife in his clothing, and was arrested later, Claterbos said.
Judge Michael Smyth ruled that enough evidence was presented for Ingram to stand trial and scheduled a May 16 Superior Court arraignment.
–City News Service
