Trial for suspect in store owner’s death scheduled

A tentative trial date has been set for a Newport Beach man accused of killing a local liquor store owner after he was confronted for allegedly stealing a magazine.

Weston Kruger, 30, is charged with murder during a robbery after prosecutors say he threw Sportsman Liquor Store owner Hao “Tony” Quang Huynh to the ground, killing him in July 2007. Kruger was on probation pending domestic violence charges he has yet to stand trial for. Kruger’s murder trial is scheduled for April 6 in Santa Ana’s Central Justice Center.

Police said Huynh confronted Kruger as he left the store because he noticed Kruger had stuffed a magazine into the front of his shorts and tried to leave without paying for it. Kruger, described as 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds, pushed Huynh, 5-foot-3, 110 pounds, to the ground, cracking his skull, police said.

Kruger could face life without parole if convicted on all charges.

— Joseph Serna