Closing arguments by the defense are set to continue Monday in the trial of three men accused of murdering a Wildomar pastor's son outside a Temecula bar.
Ryan Armstrong was fatally stabbed Dec. 26, 2008 and three men -- Matthew Basler, James Fung and Marvin Black -- are accused of murder.
They are also accused of attempted murder in the stabbing of Armstrong's friend, Joel Ross.
The three also face assault charges and all face sentence-enhancing prison prior and strike allegations.
The men -- they are from San Diego -- could each be sentenced to 60 years in prison if convicted on the charges.
Fung is additionally charged with trying to intimidate a witness.
The prosecution gave its closing argument Thursday; defense attorneys for Basler and Black then gave their closing arguments.
A motion for mistrial made by Fung's attorney and joined by attorneys for the other defendants was denied by Riverside County Superior Court Judge Angel Bermudez.
Fung's attorney, Karen Lockhart, is set to deliver her argument Monday, to be followed by the prosecution's rebuttal.
Following the rebuttal, jurors will get the case for deliberation.
The stabbings occurred outside ET Sports Lounge in Temecula about 10:45 p.m. Armstrong died at a hospital; Ross recovered from his wounds.
According to prosecution testimony, Armstrong was the peacemaker when an argument broke out earlier in the evening.
Witness testimony indicated that after things had seemingly settled down following an argument over a beer cup placed on a pool table, Armstrong was dragged to the back door by one or more of the defendants.
The defendants were thrown out but later drove around to the alley
The prosecution contends that the defendants jumped out of a truck and viciously attacked Armstrong and his friend.
The defense maintains that the defendants were swarmed by a large group and merely fought to free themselves of the melee.
To read more about the case, please click here.
