A preliminary hearing of Oct. 30 was set Aug. 13 for the motorist accused of second-degree murder and vehicular manslaughter in the death of Oscar Melero, a popular longtime hair stylist in Hillcrest.
The attorney for Abraham Granados Beltran, 24, sought the delay about four months after District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis decided to charge him with murder in the Feb. 15 crash in which Melero, 52, was killed almost instantly.
The attorney told a San Diego Superior Court judge he wanted more time to prepare for the case now that murder was added to the other charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with a suspended driver’s license. Prosecutor Cally Bright did not oppose the delay.
Melero, of National City, was well known in the LGBT community. He was on his way to the California 10/20 race at 7 a.m. at the Del Mar Fairgrounds when Beltran struck his vehicle on Interstate 5 at an estimated speed of 80 mph. Melero died from trauma to his head and body.
Bright said she filed a murder charge because Beltran had three convictions for driving on a suspended license which was revoked because of previous drunk driving incidents in Orange County. The DA’s office is using a state grant to help pay for costs in prosecuting drunk drivers who are charged with murder.
It will be up to a jury to decide whether Beltran committed second-degree murder or vehicular manslaughter in the incident if they determine he is guilty. Beltran, of San Juan Capistrano, has pleaded not guilty and remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility on $1 million bail.
