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Camp Pendleton Marine corporal accused of killing Navy veteran must stand trial on murder charges

VISTA - A Camp Pendleton Marine corporal accused of killing a Navy veteran whose body was found inside his own SUV must stand trial on murder charges that could lead to the death penalty, a judge ruled today.

Kevin Albert Richard Coset, 23, is accused in the death of 24-year-old Alvin Bulaoro, a Fallbrook man who served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve and worked as an administrator in a family-owned home healthcare business.

Judge Richard Mills, who presided over a preliminary hearing at the Vista Courthouse, ruled that enough evidence was presented for Coset to proceed to trial on the murder charge, along with knife and gun allegations and a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait.

District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis will decide later whether the defendant will face the death penalty or life in prison without parole if convicted.

The victim's body, showing signs of trauma, was found on the evening of Jan. 3 zipped inside a sleeping bag in the back seat of his own Toyota 4Runner in a parking lot in the 1100 block of South Mission Road. He had been stabbed and shot.

Members of Bulaoro's family found the SUV after previously reporting him missing. They had last seen him on Dec. 21, said San Diego County sheriff's Capt. Duncan Fraser.

Coset was taken into custody Feb. 22 at Camp Pendleton after homicide detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest, Fraser said. A motive for the murder has not been disclosed.

The defendant will be back in court April 9 for arraignment.

Marine accused in the slaying of Navy veteran found in SUV in Fallbrook parking lot scheduled to appear in court today

VISTA - A Camp Pendleton Marine corporal accused in the slaying of a Navy veteran whose body was found inside his own SUV in Fallbrook was scheduled to be in court today for a preliminary hearing.

Kevin Albert Richard Coset, 23, was taken into custody Feb. 22 at Camp Pendleton after homicide detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest, said San Diego County sheriff's Capt. Duncan Fraser.

He later pleaded not guilty to murder and allegations that he used a knife and a firearm in the killing of 24-year-old Alvin Bulaoro. Prosecutors also charged Coset with a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait.

If convicted, Coset could face the death penalty or life in prison.

A judge will decide at the end of the preliminary hearing whether there's enough evidence to order the defendant to stand trial.

The victim's body, showing signs of trauma, was found on the evening of Jan. 3 zipped inside a sleeping bag in the back seat of his own Toyota 4Runner in a parking lot in the 1100 block of South Mission Road, Fraser said.

Members of Bulaoro's family found the SUV after previously reporting him missing. They had last seen him on Dec. 21, Fraser said.

No theory on motive has been advanced by prosecutors.

Bulaoro was a U.S. Navy veteran who later served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve. The victim worked as an administrator in a family- owned home healthcare business.

 

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