Huntington Beach man’s murder trial set for Thursday

A Huntington Beach man accused of the 2005 murder of his roommate on Halloween is scheduled to go on trial Thursday.

Opening statements will be heard in the trial of Vladimir Benitez, 28, who is charged with stabbing roommate Camilo Martinez-Santiago, who was 32, in his sleep. Benitez is charged with murder with a sentencing enhancement for use of a deadly weapon, and he faces a maximum sentence of 26 years to life in prison if convicted.

Prosecutors say Benitez stabbed Martinez-Santiago after hearing that their landlord was kicking him out of their rented house; the landlord’s reason for doing so was that roommates did not like Benitez, according to prosecutors.

Benitez surrendered himself to police about a few weeks after the killing, the Independent reported at the time. He told police he had been living on the streets of Los Angeles.

The trial will take place in Orange County Superior Court’s Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.