Trial ordered for son accused of mother’s fatal stabbing in Clairemont Mesa

A San Diego Police cruiser Photo courtesy of SDPD A man accused of fatally stabbing his mother at their Clairemont Mesa apartment was ordered Monday to stand trial for murder Jamal Aytes is accused in the death of -year-old Jacqueline Aytes who was killed at the apartment they shared on Mesa College Drive According to testimony from a preliminary hearing held Monday the victim sustained stab or incise wounds to both the front and back of her head torso arms and legs Police were initially called by Jamal Aytes just after p m Sept just hours before police exposed his mother dead Jamal Aytes had notified police his mother was having a mental breakdown and had threatened him with a butter knife SDPD Lt Jud Campbell commented Officers responded to the apartment but concluded after an evaluation of Jacqueline Aytes that she did not meet the criteria for a mental wellness hold and that no crime had occurred Jamal Aytes was not at the apartment when officers responded About three hours later Jamal Aytes proved up at a hospital with cuts to his hands Campbell noted Officers then went back to the Aytes residence and identified the victim dead Deputy Residents Defender Christine Brady argued self-defense couldn t be ruled out per her client s initial call to police and his injuries The attorney argued his hand injuries and the presence of his blood on a knife blade were consistent with taking the knife away from his mother She also reported that when officers responded to the Aytes apartment they spoke with Jacqueline Aytes for only a sparse minutes and did not enter the apartment to assess the situation Deputy District Attorney Kristie Nikoletich argued that the number of stab wounds and their locations on the victim s body make it clear that it was murder and nothing less She mentioned that Aytes hand injury was greater part likely sustained when part of the knife broke during the alleged attack causing his hand to slip and get sliced on the blade The prosecutor mentioned no knives or other items that could be used by Jacqueline Aytes as weapons were unveiled in the nearby vicinity of her body At least one knife held to have been used in the killing was detected discarded in a trash can in the apartment s kitchen Blood was also determined in the apartment s bathroom sink and a sink in a nearby laundry room Nikoletich argued this was indicative of trying to clean up the scene while Brady argued it was more likely Aytes was absolutely tending to his wounds Aytes was held to answer on the murder charge and remains in custody without bail