The wheels of the justice system are slowly rolling along for a Santa Monica mechanic accused of murder.
Michael Ward Bell, 53, a resident of Los Angeles, appeared in Santa Monica Superior Court on Wednesday with his public defender John Raphling to set a date for a preliminary hearing. The accused also received a copy of the Los Angeles County Coroner’s report on the victim, Andre Watson.
Watson, a black male, had been seen by witnesses loitering outside BT Automotive on 2600 block of Pico Boulevard during the entire day of July 1. Around 8:20 p.m., Bell emerged from his shop and allegedly shot the man. Sources said Watson appeared to be a transient.
Bell has plead not guilty to killing the victim, and he remains in the Los Angeles County Jail on $2 million bail.
The coroner’s report found Watson had died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen, said Deputy Los Angeles County District Attorney Christine Johnston, who is prosecuting Bell’s case.
Raphling said the case is moving forward and both sides are currently gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.
“There were quite a number of people at the scene,” he said. “So I’m in the process of finding out what they saw and heard.”
However, setting a date for the preliminary hearing, which determines whether there is enough evidence to proceed with a jury trial, will be delayed until Sept. 23, when the Santa Monica Police Department detective handling the case will be available to appear in court.
Santa Monica police were called to the area at 8:24 p.m. on July 1 when several residents reported shots being fired, said Lt. Frank Fabrega, a SMPD spokesman.
When officers arrived, they found Watson lying on the sidewalk in front of a parking lot on Pico Boulevard. The victim had been shot multiple times in the lower torso, and he was transported to UCLA Medical Center where he was pronounced dead Minutes later, SMPD officers found Bell in the parking lot of BT Automotive, where he was arrested.
According to an employee at a nearby repair shop, Watson stood on the street outside of BT Automotive most of Monday afternoon. Bell stayed late that night waiting for a customer to pick up his car, which he did at about 8 p.m. He was arrested nearly 30 minutes later.
Business owners in the area who know Bell were shocked to hear he had been arrested for murder.
“He was a mechanic that I could trust,” said Ron Winkelman, owner of a business near to BT Automotive, the day after the shooting. “I liked him, he was a good guy... I feel bad for the guy.”
Though Raphling would not cite specific reasons for his client’s actions until the preliminary hearing, the lawyer said he had a solid defense.
“I’m still investigating,” Raphling said. “I do know some of what was going on, but I’m still investigating.”
“The whole story will come out soon enough,” he added.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 29, 2002. Read the original PDF.