Double Murder Suspect Arraigned, Headed to Pretrial

A suspect in the killing of two Mission Viejo men at a Lake Forest eatery was arraigned this week in Santa Ana, moving him closer to trial.

Justin Alvin Maseo Tombleson, a Lake Forest resident, is accused of using a pocket knife in the early hours of June 11, 2011, to mortally wound Rancho Santa Margarita hockey coach Elvis Kechechian, who died at the scene, and Hossain Saidian, who died a few days later, in the parking lot of an all-night Mexican restaurant.

Additional details about the night's events were revealed earlier this month at a preliminary court hearing. After listening to testimony, Judge Eddie Thomas Keller ruled there was enough evidence for the case against Tombleson to move forward to an arraignment.

Tombleson has pleaded not guilty, saying that he acted in self-defense. He remains behind bars on $2-million bail.

His next hearing is scheduled for March 9 in Santa Ana.