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Trial Opens For Fullerton Transient Accused Of Murdering Homeless Man

SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — Opening statements were set to begin Friday in the trial of a homeless Fullerton man charged for allegedly murdering another transient man with a piece of wood.

Sergio Camacho Gonzalez, 39, is charged with one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for using a deadly weapon.

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 26 years to life in state prison.

Gonzalez is accused of getting into a verbal argument with 56-year-old Andrew Petrusiak in a Fullerton liquor store on the evening of Sept. 25, 2010.

After Petrusiak returned to his campsite behind a Fullerton business complex, Gonzalez is accused of entering the victim's campsite at approximately 9:15 p.m. and murdering him by striking the victim in the back of the head with a piece of wood.

At approximately 8:30 p.m., video surveillance in the business complex captured Gonzalez entering the site and leaving four minutes later.

Petrusiak's friend arrived at the victim's campsite, discovered the victim's body, and called 911. The Fullerton Police Department responded to the scene and investigated this case.

Gonzalez is accused of being identified by witnesses to the argument inside the local liquor store as the man seen entering and exiting the campsite on the night of the murder.

Gonzalez - a day laborer who rents rooms in Fullerton and Anaheim when he can afford to - was arrested by police on March 23, 2011.

He is being held on $1 million bail.

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