LAKEPORT – A man accused of murdering his roommate over the weekend make his first appearance in court on Tuesday.

John Robert Gray, 43, was in Judge Richard Martin's Department 2 courtroom Tuesday afternoon for arraignment.

He's charged with the murder of Eric James Joaquin, 37, who was a roommate in Gray's Clear Lake Riviera home.

District Attorney Jon Hopkins read off the charges against Gray, which in addition to the allegation of murder include two special allegations; the first is a probation ineligibility allegation based upon inflicting great bodily injury in a violent felony, and the second is a one-year enhancement for the use of a deadly weapon.

For this appearance Gray was represented by a visiting public defender. Bay Area attorney Kevin Ikuma, hired by Gray's family to represent him, was unable to make Tuesday's proceedings due to scheduling conflicts and the short notice.

Martin granted a defense motion to continue the arraignment until March 9. Gray's bail amount will remain at $500,000.

Hopkins told Lake County News following Gray's court appearance that Joaquin's autopsy was scheduled to take place that afternoon.

He said his office was so far unable to relate a specific cause of death.

Hopkins confirmed, however, that Joaquin had been badly beaten.

The case so far has not been assigned to a prosecutor. Hopkins indicated that he likely wouldn't handle the prosecution himself.

E-mail Harold LaBonte at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

{mos_sb_discuss:2}