Two cases may be joined

A Long Beach man accused of robbing and murdering a Newport Beach couple in 2004 could also be tried on charges he robbed a man of $50,000 and murdered him in Mexico in 2005 if prosecutors get their way next month.

Senior Deputy Dist. Atty. Matt Murphy will argue before a judge Sept. 5 that Skylar Deleon, 28, should be tried for allegedly slashing the throat of John Jarvi in Mexico simultaneously with his trial for allegedly master-minding the murder of the Hawkses, a Newport Beach couple looking to sell their boat to spend more time with their new grandchild in Arizona.

In November 2004, Thomas and Jackie Hawks placed an ad to sell their boat, the “Well Deserved,” for $440,000. Deleon is accused of plotting and helping carry out the couple’s murder for their boat and life savings. Deleon and two other men allegedly overpowered the couple and forced them to sign over the title to the boat before they were killed. Deleon’s ex-wife, Jennifer, was convicted in the Hawkses’ murder last year and was sentenced to life in prison for her role.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Deleon because of the cruel nature in which the Hawkses were killed — they were tied to the boat’s anchor alive and thrown overboard. Their bodies were never found. Four other men also await trial in the case.

Prosecutors hope to simultaneously try Deleon for Jarvi’s murder, too. According to prosecutors, the two men met while they were in a work furlough program in Seal Beach. Deleon convinced Jarvi to take out a $50,000 loan against his condo before driving him down to Mexico and cutting his throat on the side of the highway for the money. Deleon was married to Jennifer, who was pregnant at the time, and the two were heavily in debt, prosecutors said.

In a separate twist on the case, John Kennedy, who is implicated in the Hawkses’ murder and is scheduled to be tried with Deleon, may get a separate trial instead, Murphy said. Kennedy’s defense attorneys told the judge Monday he would not be ready in time.

Deleon’s trial is scheduled to start Sept. 15.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at [email protected].