TEHACHAPI MMA FIGHTER GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER

A former MMA fighter has been convicted of first degree murder in the beating deaths of a gay couple in his Tehachapi apartment.

Joaquin Balassa claims he killed Jose Fajardo and Guy Koukal in September 2014 after they raped him, but Deputy District Attorney David Wilson thinks justice was served because of how the men died. Wilson’s prosecution relied on forensic evidence, and he claimed Balassa was lying about being assaulted.

The defense countered there was no reason for Balassa to kill his friends on a night they had all been having fun if there was no assault.

Balassa told the jury, “I was only defending myself” after the verdict was read. He faces life in prison without parole at his May 2nd sentencing. The District Attorney will not seek the death penalty.

Kelli Forsch