Mexican citizen in court to face Coachella murder charge

A man recently extradited from Mexico to face charges of killing his roommate in Coachella nearly a decade ago has plead not guilty.

Mexican citizen Walter Cuevas Gastelum, 29, was in court in Indio Wednesday afternoon to answer to the murder charge. Gastelum also faces a sentence-enhancing allegation of using a gun in the death of Manuel Ley.

The murder happened at a home on Van Buren Street where police said Gastelum and Ley were roommates. Ley was killed on April 12, 2004.

Gastelum is being held on $1M bail.