Hearing Delayed in Alleged Beating Death of Murrieta Man

With his attorney tied up on another case, a preliminary hearing was postponed today for a man accused of fatally beating an acquaintance, Sergio Corona, of Murrieta, whose body was dumped behind a Perris business.   

is charged with murder and weapons use allegations in the June 20 death of 47-year-old Corona.   

Martinez's attorney, A.C. Jones, informed Riverside County Superior Court Judge Becky Dugan today that he was in the middle of another case and requested a one-month postponement for Martinez's preliminary hearing, which will determine whether there's sufficient evidence to try the defendant.  

Dugan reset the hearing for Nov. 4.   

Martinez is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.   

The defendant allegedly attacked Corona with a rock and a tree branch, pummeling him to death. Martinez then allegedly dumped the Murrieta man's remains in a planter behind a shop in the 200 block of North D Street.   

Martinez was identified as a suspect and following a two-week investigation by sheriff's homicide detectives.

No motive has been disclosed.

--City News Service