The defendants were arraigned in the courtroom of Presiding Judge Robert C. Naraja, who set the status conference for Jan. 12, 2009.
Eric Rabauliman, 18, was represented by attorney Lilian A. Tenorio, while Bruce Berline was the counsel for Edward Blas, 16. Chief Public Defender Adam Hardwicke represented Randy Igisomar, 16.
Blas has been charged with theft, curfew violation and burglary in three other cases
On Dec. 5, Associate Judge Ramona V. Manglona set no bail for the three defendants who were charged with murder in the first degree, burglary and/or robbery.
She said the defendants will be charged as adults.
According to the prosecution, the three beat to death Efren Ballesteros, 45, with a PVC pipe, an iron rebar and a 2×2 wood on Nov. 17.
Detective Simon Manacop’s affidavit submitted to the court stated that the defendants hatched a plan on the night of Nov. 16 to steal laptops from MHS.
Ballesteros’ body was discovered by a school employee at around 6 a.m. on Nov. 17.
A tip to the Crime Stoppers program later resulted in the arrest of the three teenagers.
