Marcus Fletcher
Jury selection to get underway in liquor store murder trial
MURRIETA - Jury selection is slated to get under way today for the trial of two men accused of gunning down a Temecula liquor store clerk during a robbery.
Marcus Fletcher, 27, and Dale Dante Thomas, 26, could face the death penalty if convicted of killing 34-year-old Rafi Ibrahim at the Rancho Liquor Store on Old Town Front Street in April 2005.
Both defendants are charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder, with a special circumstance allegation that the crimes were committed during a robbery.
Fletcher is additionally charged with first-degree murder, gun and great bodily injury allegations in a separate fatal shooting in San Diego County. Along with Ibrahim's death, the defendant will be tried at the same time for the Jan. 26, 2005, killing of 23-year-old Kedran Howard.
The cases were merged in 2006 after Riverside County prosecutors established that the same .38-caliber handgun was used in both shootings.
According to prosecutors, Thomas cased the Old Town Temecula liquor store before allegedly returning with Fletcher hours later to rob it.
One other person was in the line of fire, resulting in the attempted murder charge.
Thomas allegedly confessed to participating in the hold-up, telling sheriff's investigators that his cut of the stolen cash was $400.
Both defendants are being held without bail at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta.
http://www.myvalleynews.com/story/54981/
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