Preliminary Hearing Set for Men Accused of Homicide

A San Mateo County Superior Court judge on Monday set a preliminary hearing for the two men accused of the Cypress Avenue murder of 23-year-old Christopher Chastain.

Nicholas Vargas, 25, of San Bruno and Brandon Thompson, 26, of San Mateo were ordered back to court Oct. 25. The hearing will likely be the first time details get revealed about the night of April 10, when a late-night argument at Vargas’s parent’s house on Cypress Avenue apparently led to Chastain's death.

According to the district attorney's office, Chastain was struck with a pipe wrench and stabbed after having a piece of plastic put over his face. The two assailants then reportedly dragged Chastain outside of the house and tried to put him in the trunk of Vargas’s car, which was parked in the driveway. But Chastain’s 6-foot-5 frame was too heavy for them, so they left him on the ground.

Chastain had a 3-year-old son.

Vargas and Thompson remain in San Mateo County Jail without bail.