Three men received life sentences today for the 2008 murder of a Wildomar pastor’s son and the attempted murder of his friend, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office has announced.
Matthew Alexis Basler, 34, of Del Mar, was sentenced to 69 years to life; Matthew Justin Black, 29, of El Cajon, was sentenced to 70 years to life; and James Wing Fung, 34, of San Diego, was sentenced to 71 years to life.
The sentences were handed down by Superior Court Judge Angel Bermudez, who presided over the trial of the three men.
In November, who was with Armstrong, and misdemeanor assault of a third victim. Armstrong is the son of Ron Armstrong, founding pastor of Wildomar’s Cornerstone Community Church.
The stabbing murder and attempted murder took place Dec. 26, 2008, outside E.T.’s Lounge on Jefferson Avenue in Temecula.
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 the 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 behind the bar where the stabbings took place.
The prosecution contended the defendants jumped out of a truck and viciously attacked Armstrong and Ross.
The defense maintained the defendants were swarmed by a large group and fought to free themselves of the melee.
