Camp Pendleton Marine Lance Cpl. Darren Evans will face court-martial in February for the premeditated murder of his roommate, 19-year-old Lance Cpl. Mario Arias.
A Marine Corps spokesman told Camp Pendleton Patch the trial will begin on February 4.
As Home Post previously reported, Arias was found dead in his Camp Pendleton barracks on November 6, 2011. Evans, who was 19 at the time, allegedly attacked Arias with the claw end of a crowbar, resulting in nine different head wounds on Arias.
Investigators believe after Evans beat Arias to death, he jumped from the third-floor of the barracks - either to escape or to commit suicide. Evans was hospitalized for weeks with injuries he sustained from the fall.
At Evans's Article 32 hearing last March, several Marines testified they believed Evans had a drinking problem and was depressed to the point of being suicidal.
Arias, a Canoga Park native, was assigned to the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. He served as an air-crew trainee.
