Jurors Thursday ended their third day of deliberations without reaching verdicts in the trial of three men accused of murdering a Wildomar pastor's son and wounding his friend.
Matthew Alexis Basler, 34, Marvin Justin Black, 29, and James Wing Fung, 33, could each face more than 60 years in prison if convicted of first-degree murder, attempted murder and weapons allegations in the Dec. 26, 2008, slaying of 22-year-old Ryan Joshua Armstrong and the stabbing of his friend, Joel Ross.
Fung is additionally charged with attempting to dissuade a witness.
The jury was ordered back to court Monday to resume deliberations.
The panel asked for a readback of testimony on Wednesday, and on Thursday, asked to see some items entered as evidence during the nearly month-long trial.
The stabbings occurred outside ET's Sports Lounge in Temecula about 10:45 p.m. Dec. 26, 2008. 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 abeer 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.
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Pastor Ron Armstrong of Cornerstone Community Church in Wildomar is the father of Armstrong.
