SANTA CRUZ — A Watsonville man accused of stabbing to demise his brother whereas he lay sleeping in mattress will stand to face trial for homicide, a choose dominated this week.
In response to particulars sketched out in testimony by a number of deputies throughout a preliminary listening to Wednesday, Seledonio Diaz allegedly confirmed up round 9 p.m. on a Tuesday night time at his mom’s Watsonville residence the place he often slept. Inside 45 minutes, police had been known as to the De Laney Avenue residence, the place they discovered Francisco Diaz, 55, fatally stabbed in his bed room.
Two days later, after a standoff at a Gilroy motel, Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Workplace arrested Seledonio Diaz, 39. After his arrest, Seledonio Diaz, who pleaded not responsible to prices in Could, instructed investigators that he didn't bear in mind what he had been doing for the 72 hours prior, in line with testimony.
Detectives later recovered a silver Mazda SUV with what gave the impression to be a blood-covered kitchen knife inside, parked exterior a Pajaro church.
Occasions of the deadly night time
On the night time of March 30, 2021, Francisco Diaz allegedly was asleep in his room, along with his mom, brother Marcos Diaz and a household buddy renting a room elsewhere within the residence, in line with testimony. Seledonio Diaz — brother to Francisco and Marcos Diaz — allegedly confirmed up on the residence, offended and showing as if had been consuming, deputies mentioned members of the family instructed them.
Each the mom and Marcos Diaz individually known as 911 on Seledonio Diaz that night time, deputies testified.
Throughout Wednesday’s court docket listening to, Sheriff’s Workplace Deputy Ryan Fulton testified that Marcos Diaz described his brother as being hysterical, offended, unhappy and, at instances, crying that night. He mentioned his brother had apparently been consuming all through the day. Seledonio Diaz, Fulton was instructed by the brother, might change into “loopy” when he drank. That night time, Marcos Diaz instructed deputies, Seledonio mentioned he was offended at feedback Francisco allegedly had made towards their mom.
“He believed that Francisco had disrespected their mom and was inflicting her stress,” Fulton testified of Marcos Diaz’s statements that night time.
Earlier within the day, Seledonio Diaz allegedly had been hanging out with and pushed Marcos Diaz to his residence, in line with testimony. Marcos Diaz instructed deputies he didn't know what had occurred within the interim to anger Seledonio Diaz, they mentioned. A fourth brother, Napolean Diaz, reportedly instructed deputies that Seledonio Diaz had arrived at his residence round 8 p.m. in a grey SUV. Seledonio Diaz allegedly drove his SUV right into a buddy’s automobile parked on the property, in line with testimony. Seledonio Diaz then allegedly received out of his SUV with a beer in a single hand and a 5-inch fastened blade knife within the different, demanding owed cash from Napolean Diaz’s buddy. Napolean Diaz compelled his brother, whom he described as “sauced,” or drunk, to deputies, to depart the property, in line with testimony.
‘Grabbed a big kitchen knife’
Mom Aurelia Diaz later instructed a deputy that Seledonio Diaz, drunk and probably excessive on medicine, had arrived on the home as she was preparing for mattress. Her son gave her a hug and instructed her he cherished her earlier than later starting to demand that she kick Francisco Diaz out of the home, testified Deputy Laura Iniguez.
“He (Seledonio) mentioned if she didn’t kick him (Francisco) out of the home, he (Seledonio) was going to kill him (Francisco),” Iniguez testified of her interview in Spanish with Aurelia Diaz.
When the mom and brother realized Seledonio Diaz was upset with Francisco Diaz, they tried to calm him down within the kitchen, deputies mentioned. At one level, nevertheless, Seledonio allegedly grabbed a big kitchen knife and tried to go for Francisco Diaz’s room, Marcos Diaz instructed investigators. Aurelia Diaz additionally instructed Iniguez that she was going to alert Francisco Diaz to the continuing dispute, however didn't have sufficient time. She ultimately went to the room of her tenant and known as police, nevertheless, in line with Iniguez.
Marcos Diaz went as far as to “bearhug” his brother in an effort to disarm him and forestall him from going into their sleeping brother’s room, in line with testimony. One in all Marcos Diaz’s fingers appeared to have been reduce within the wrestle, in line with testimony. As soon as Seledonio Diaz escaped Marcos Diaz’s grasp, Marcos went to escort his mom out of the home, he allegedly instructed police. Deputies testified that Marcos Diaz was inconsistent on the query of whether or not or not he noticed his brother get stabbed.
Marcos Diaz allegedly later returned to his brother’s room to search out Francisco Diaz useless. He instructed deputies that he noticed Seledonio Diaz leaving the house in what he thought was a white truck, deputies mentioned.
Santa Cruz County Superior Court docket Decide Nancy de la Peña dominated Wednesday that enough proof existed to proceed to a legal trial. An arraignment on the brand new data within the case is scheduled for June 1.