Hearing set for murder suspect

The man charged with murder in the Nov. 24 stabbing death of Ivan Bravo Saldana, 29, in El Centro has a preliminary hearing scheduled for May 17 at the Superior Court in Brawley, Deputy District Attorney Mario Vela said.

Angel Jesus Beltran, 27 at the time of the incident, has pleaded not guilty and remains in the county jail on $1 million bail.

Vela did not immediately release details on the time it is taking for the hearing, which is held to determine if there is enough evidence to try a defendant on the charges filed.

According to El Centro Police, witnesses reported seeing Beltran enter and leave Saldana’s residence in the 100 block of Orange Avenue around the time a woman called police to report a stabbing there.

Officers arrived to find Saldana bleeding from “multiple” stab wounds and not breathing. Despite resuscitation efforts, he was pronounced dead a short time later at El Centro Regional Medical Center, where he had been taken by ambulance.

With the aid of witnesses, officers located Beltran at his nearby residence a short time later, police said. A weapon suspected of being used to stab Saldana was also found in his residence. Police at the time said they had no immediate motive for the stabbing.