San Bruno Man Accused Of Killing, Cutting Up Man After Space Heater Dispute Pleads Not Guilty
REDWOOD CITY (CBS SF) -- A San Bruno man accused of killing his neighbor and cutting up the body in a dispute over a space heater pleaded not guilty plea Monday afternoon, San Mateo County prosecutors said.
David Stubblefield, 50, appeared at 1:30 p.m. in Redwood City felony court with his appointed attorney Dek Ketchum. The case was continued to May 22 at 1:30 p.m.
Stubblefield remains in jail on $10 million bail.
On March 11 Stubblefield and his 77-year-old friend and neighbor Benjamin Roybal argued over the price of a space heater when Stubblefield pepper-sprayed Roybal and shot him to death, according to prosecutors.
Both men lived in the 3000 block of Pacific Heights Boulevard, police said. Officers discovered Roybal's body on April 6 following a report that Roybal was missing.
Stubblefield allegedly tried to get rid of the body using chemicals, according to prosecutors.
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said prosecutors think there's a deeper motive.
"Obviously, there's more to it," Wagstaffe said.
But seemingly trivial arguments sometimes end in murder, he said.
"Sometimes a motive that seems incredibly trivial is simply the match that ignites the fire," Wagstaffe said.
Whether Stubblefield will be evaluated for sanity is up to the defense attorney. Ketchum could not be reached for comment Monday morning.
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