Gonzalez brothers trial postponed

The trial of two Porterville men accused of murdering a Porterville man as he walked out of a local convenience store has been postponed.

Rafael ‘Rafa’ Gonzalez, 19, is accused of shooting Erick Andrew Garcia several times in the upper torso as he walked out of Family Store Mini Mart at North Palm Street and West Belleview Avenue on May 17, 2010.

His brother, Jose Gonzalez, 22, was also present at the scene and was initially arrested on suspicion of being an accessory to homicide.

The trial had been set for Tuesday but was postponed for a trial date setting on March 6.

Each is charged with one count of murder, with a special circumstance that the murder was committed while being an active gang member, a special allegation for the use of a firearm causing death and an additional special allegation that the act was committed for the benefit of a criminal street gang.

Both men entered not-guilty pleas and denied all special allegations.