Man will face murder charge

Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003 | 9:46 a.m.

A construction worker who told authorities he killed his foreman because he believed the man was a witch who had placed a curse on him will face a murder charge in District Court, a Justice of the Peace ruled Monday.

After a preliminary hearing, Justice of the Peace Karen Bennett-Haron determined there was enough evidence against Reyes Olivares to warrant a single count of open murder with a deadly weapon in the shooting death of Vaughn Russell, 43.

Police say Olivares, 36, told them that he had warned several co-workers that Russell was a witch and that Russell was practicing black magic. He said he was going to kill Russell before Russell killed him, police said.

The preliminary hearing came after Olivares underwent psychiatric testing at Lakes Crossing.

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