Update: Car Crash Murder Suspects Plea Hearing Delayed

Updated 11:17 a.m. Friday

The plea hearing for two men facing charges related to a home burglary turned fatal car crash that killed two people in January was further delayed Friday morning.

Deshon Collier, 21, and Jabrie Watts, 20, appeared before Judge Dennis McLaughlin at the Fremont Hall of Justice, dressed in yellow jumpsuits this morning.

The two face murder, burglary and receiving of stolen property charges.

Representing Collier, attorney Ernie Castillo said he was prepared to enter a "not guilty" plea on behalf of Collier, but that motion was withdrawn after Watts' attorney, William Linehan, said he was under the impression that the pleas would be entered at the pair's next court hearing.

Collier and Watts are scheduled to return to the Fremont Hall of Justice for a plea hearing and to set a date for a pretrial on May 18 at 9 a.m.

Both men were arrested by Newark police on Jan. 18 after authorities said the two attempted to  they participated in with a third burglary suspect on Mistflower Avenue.

That third burglary suspect, , 20, suffered major head injuries from the crash and was pronounced dead at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley two days after the collision.

Pleasanton resident , 69, was killed immediately after the suspects’ Chevy Malibu smashed into the two-door Honda Cheney was driving, police said.

Collier and Watts were expected to enter a plea in late February but Alameda County District Attorney Teresa Drenick said their plea was delayed as court officials anticipated.

Collier’s attorney said before the pair’s that he believed the murder charge is inappropriate for Collier.

“We feel the murder charge is not appropriate for [Collier]. My client was not the driver,” Castillo told Newark Patch.

Neither Castillo nor authorities have released information regarding who was driving the Chevy Malibu at the time of the crash, which occurred at the intersection of Cherry Street and Mowry Avenue.

The Chevy had rolled over on impact and overturned into the parking lot of .

According to a report Newark police Det. David Higbee filed to the court, Collier and Watts left Watkins, 20, who was trapped underneath the Chevy.

In the report, Higbee said the Chevy that the suspects used was rented by Collier's mother and that the suspects stole jewelry and a watch in the burglary at the home on Mistflower Avenue.

Authorities have said that an officer was called to Mistflower Avenue after a witness reported seeing the trio kick down a door. When that officer attempted to pull over the Chevy Malibu the driver of that vehicle drove southbound on Cedar Boulevard at , police said.

The Alameda County District Attorney's Office alleges that Watts has prior convictions for attempted second-degree robbery and second-degree commercial burglary, while Collier has a prior conviction for assault with a deadly weapon.

Online court documents also show that Collier was convicted and sentenced for a variety of charges stemming from a 2009 incident.

Those charges included carrying a loaded firearm, negligent shooting of a firearm, exhibiting a deadly weapon that is not a firearm and knowingly receiving stolen property totaling more than $400.

The prior convictions could increase the prison sentences for Watts and Collier if they are convicted of the current charges. Police say Watkins also had a prior criminal record.

- Bay City News contributed to this report.