A judge on May 2 set jury selection for June 7 for a young drunk driver charged with two counts of second-degree murder of his two passengers who were killed in 2022 off Torrey Pines Road.
Attorneys will argue some pre-trial motions on June 6 in the case against Christopher Ray Schmittel, now 21, before San Diego Superior Court Judge Lisa Rodriguez.
Schmittel is also accused of two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter in the deaths of Joshua Manzanares, 19, and Johnny Punzalan, 19, both of Lake Elsinore, in the April 25, 2022, incident.
The attorneys said they planned to call 33 witnesses. Rodriguez said the case would be submitted to a jury just before the last week of June.
Schmittel, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, sat at a defense table in blue jail clothes with his attorney.
“The families are absolutely devastated and every continuance is absolutely devastating,” said Deputy District Attorney Hailey Williams.
“Any delays will result in grave consequences for the families,” said Williams, who noted the defense attorney has delayed the trial several times.
“It seems the case is moving forward in the appropriate direction,” said Rodriguez.
Schmittel is also accused of DUI causing injury to several other passengers including Aaron McCray who testified in 2023 that he recalled someone asking Schmittel if he felt OK to drive and Schmittel replied “Yes.” McCray said Schmittel admitted to drinking alcohol with a tranquilizer and psychedelic mushrooms.
Schmittel remains in the South Bay Detention Facility without bail.
