Larry Clinton Morrow will be held to answer for felony voluntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon for the Jan. 10 stabbing of 24-year old Jesse Alvin Ruiz at the Hidden Creek RV Park in Trinidad. 

The preliminary hearing wrapped up this morning with Judge Marilyn Miles ruling that there is sufficient cause to hold Morrow on the felony charge. The defense had argued that Morrow acted in self defense and that the killing should be considered justifiable homicide. But Assistant District Attorney Kelly Neel countered that Morrow was the aggressor that night, stabbing Ruiz “repeatedly with force.”

Much of the morning’s testimony centered on where the altercation took place — inside a resident’s trailer or outside — and on Morrow’s history of anger and violence. The defense argued that Ruiz had entered the trailer, but Neel said there was no evidence of that. The murder weapon was found 15-20 feet away, near the bumper of a car, and there was no evidence of blood inside the trailer, witnesses said.

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Detective Jennifer Turner testified that Morrow admitted to being in about 40 fights in his life, including one in Chico in which he stabbed somebody. He also admitted to blacking out when he’s angry, Turner said.

Sheriff’s Investigator Gregory Musson testified that Morrow recalled stabbing Ruiz only once, in the stomach. “He knew he did it; he just didn’t know how,” Musson said. When informed of the autopsy findings, which showed Ruiz had been stabbed at least five times, including a gash wound and broken bone in his forearm, Morrow was stunned, Musson said.

Referring to his official report, Musson read what he said was a direct quote of Morrow’s reaction: “Wow, no way. You gotta be shittin’ me. Five times. Oh my god.”

An arraignment date was set for Feb. 13 at 2 p.m.