New details in the December stabbing death of 28-year-old
Alejandro Hurtado emerged at a preliminary hearing Thursday for
Jose A. Covian, 22, accused of the murder.
HOLLISTER
New details in the December stabbing death of 28-year-old Alejandro Hurtado emerged at a preliminary hearing Thursday for Jose A. Covian, 22, accused of the murder.
The incident occurred near midnight on Dec. 3, 2007, in the 800 block of C street and was not gang related, according to police reports.
San Benito Superior Court Judge Steven Sanders oversaw the matter Thursday that consisted of witnesses testifying about the night of the murder. The lead witness was Carlos Argueta, who was himself in custody for drug-related charges at the time of his testimony.
Argueta testified that as he and Hurtado walked up to Hurtado’s house, they heard a whistle and looked up to see Covian across the street.
“He said he wanted to kick it with us, but I told him, ‘Go home, you’re drunk,'” testified Argueta.
According to the witness, Covian then left and he and Hurtado entered the garage through a side door. Soon after they were joined by Joanne Martinez who had arrived to give Argueta a ride home, according to testimony. At this point, according to Argueta, Covian returned asking “to party,” but was again told to leave. He did so, but said he would be returning with “his soldiers.”
According to the witness, he did return 10 minutes later with three other individuals who remained standing by the mailbox. He said Covian then attempted to reach over and unlatch the gate on the side of the house, and Hurtado went outside and attempted to strike him on the hand with a metal bar but missed.
Hurtado and Argueta, he alleged, then went out to the driveway where Covian was standing and challenged them to a fight.
“I kept telling him to go home and saying we didn’t have to fight,” said Argueta, who added that Covian went down on one knee and pretended he had been struck by Hurtado.
“His soldiers by the mailbox were yelling, ‘Why’d you hit my homey?'” testified Argueta.
Next, according to the witness, he saw Covian rise up from one knee and grab Hurtado “like they do in football.” Hurtado swung his metal bar at Covian, but Covian ducked out of the way, the witness alleged.
“He then began yelling, ‘I got him – I got him,’ and ran away into the street followed by the three men who had been near the mailbox.”
Argueta said he asked Hurtado if he was all right – and they turned to reenter the garage. He stumbled and started to fall, and Argueta said that he supported him and got him into the garage, noticing blood on his hand as he did so.
Argueta then called 911 and said he tried to care for his friend before police arrived.
Law enforcement and an ambulance soon arrived, but Hurtado was pronounced dead at 1 am. Less than an hour later, police arrested Covian who was at his home a short distance away.
