Crime & Safety

Men Plead Not Guilty in Fatal Bar Fight

Frank Cobarruvias and Rene Avina enter not guilty pleas at their arraignment. They are suspected of beating bouncer Terie Colecchi to death.

Two men accused of beating a Redondo bar bouncer to death pleaded not guilty to murder charges at their arraignment Monday.

Terie Colecchi, 49, of Torrance, died at a hospital from injuries he suffered in a confrontation with two men outside in South Redondo Beach just before closing time on June 2.

Police believe Colecchi denied the two entry, and that's when they started beating him.

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Both suspects in the case—Francisco "Frank" Cobarruvias Jr., 35, of Redondo Beach and Rene Anthony Avina, 23, of Carson—surrendered to police last week.

During Monday's hearing, a Torrance Superior Court judge scheduled a preliminary hearing for July 9.

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Cobarruvias was being held at the Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles in lieu of $2 million bail, while Avina's bail was set at $1 million.

ABC7 reported that the judge denied a request to reduce Cobarruvias' bail.

Rene Avina is the nephew of Alejandro Avina, who was originally arrested on suspicion of murder. Police released Alejandro Avina a couple of days later after their investigation led them to Rene Avina.

—City News Service contributed to this report.

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