After 38 years, a 62-year-old man faced a jury for the first time for a 1971 murder of a Pacific Beach man who was stabbed 61 times in the victim’s apartment. DNA and fingerprints which were saved produced a suspect in 2008. The DNA evidence came from discarded cigarette butts that were found in the Hornblend Street apartment of Gerald Jackson, 27, who died Dec. 29, 1971. DNA and fingerprints led San Diego Police to arrest Gerald Dean Metcalf in August 2008, in his home in Chandler, Texas, where he lived with his wife. Metcalf was 24 years old at the time of the slaying. Deputy District Attorney Jill Schall told a seven woman, five man jury that Jackson was gay and picked up Metcalf around 2 a.m. in Horton Plaza. Schall said that was the last time Jackson was seen alive after he invited Metcalf to his home. Metcalf’s attorney, David Lamb, said, “We’re not disputing the act” that killed Jackson and conceded that Metcalf had done it. But the issue is his state of mind, said Lamb, who told jurors that Metcalf had been diagnosed with schizophrenia years ago. “This case is about the disease of the mind,” said Lamb, who stated that Metcalf had rebuffed sexual advances from another homosexual in the past and that made him panic. “It was a perfect storm of terrible circumstances,” said Lamb, adding that Metcalf had been drinking alcohol all day. Schall told jurors and Judge David Gill that Metcalf stole Jackson’s Ford Torino, a stereo receiver set that his father gave him for Christmas, and used Jackson’s identification when he pawned the stereo. Metcalf left a bloody palm print on the stereo, which was found by police. Ron Coberly, a friend of Jackson’s, testified he and another friend came over to Jackson’s apartment on Jan. 2, 1972, as they were concerned he had not shown up for work. Coberly told jurors he entered the apartment. Jackson was found dead from many stab wounds. A new witness has surfaced, the prosecutor told jurors. A man named Eddie who was a friend of Metcalf had driven him from Texas to San Diego in 1971. They were out of work in mid-December 1971, she said, and they talked of what they could do. “Maybe I’ll roll a queer,” Metcalf was quoted as telling his friend, Schall said. In 2008, a police department intern compared the fingerprints of the killer with fingerprints from Texas on a data base and scored a hit. Weeks later, San Diego Police knocked on Metcalf’s door and arrested him after taking his fingerprints and a DNA sample from him. Metcalf remains in the Vista Detention Facility on $1 million bail.