An Irishman accused of throwing a Swiss man over the side of a party boat in San Francisco Bay has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and will go on trial in March.
Mr William Monaghan (27) was arrested after he allegedly told a fellow passenger on the Royal Princehe had thrown Lionel Voillat (30) over the side because "he was the jealous type".
Mr Voillat's body was found in November floating between Alcatraz and Angel Island.
Witnesses testified during a preliminary hearing that the two men had argued about a conversation Mr Monaghan had with Mr Voillat's girlfriend moments before the Swiss man went over the side of the boat that cruised San Francisco Bay on the night of October 26th.
Mr Monaghan, who worked as a carpenter in San Francisco before his arrest, is being held on $3 million bail. Prosecutors pushed for a quick trial because of concern their main witness would be returning to Ireland in May.
The trial has been scheduled for March 28th trial in San Francisco Superior Court.
AP