BF denied bail

HOMICIDE PRELIM SET FOR NEXT WEEK

Bail was denied Feb. 27 for Paul Alan Paraschak, 42, who is charged with shooting his girlfriend, Melanie Benitez, 27, to death in an Alpine driveway.

Little information was said about the Feb. 23 slaying at Paraschak’s arraignment be­fore El Cajon Superior Court Judge Robert Amador.

Paraschak pleaded not guilty.

Eighteen family and friends of Benitez attended the ar­raignment.

His attorney, Anthony Park­er, told the judge he would not argue for bail being set for his client, saying it was not neces­sary for the prosecutor to go into the facts of the slaying.

Deputy District Attorney Jes­sica Lees said afterwards she could not say very much about the case because most of the facts have not been discussed in court.

The sheriff’s department said the couple lived together in Al­pine. Benitez was pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds outside a white car that was parked in the 2800 block of Victoria Drive.

A woman who lived at the home told reporters she did not know the couple and did not know why their car was in her driveway. She was not home at the time, but was alerted to it by a phone call.

Paraschak was arrested by sheriff’s deputies a distance away from the scene and he was in possession of two hand­guns.

Fox 5 News reporter Kasia Gregorczyk was the only re­porter to talk to Paraschak in jail on Feb. 26, the day before he was arraigned.

“Some things are hazy,” said Paraschak in the Fox 5 inter­view when asked if he remembered the slaying. “I was intoxi­cated.”

When Gregorczyk asked him what substances had he taken, he replied “weed and alcohol.”

“I know I’m innocent,” said Paraschak. “I can say I’m not guilty.”

“They said she’s deceased,” said Paraschak, adding he was informed of it after his arrest.

“I am sorry that we have lost a beautiful spirit,” said Para­schak. “I loved her. I still loved her.”

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