SAN DIEGO : Sailor Denied Bail in Double Slaying

An 18-year-old Navy enlisted man charged with murdering his two roommates was ordered Monday to be held without bail in County Jail.

Christopher Welters pleaded not guilty before San Diego Municipal Judge Harvey Hiber, who denied him bail but set a bail review for next Monday.

Welters is accused of fatally shooting two other sailors, Thomas Gulka, 22, and Thomas Grant, 22, last Tuesday in their City Heights apartment. He is also accused of grand theft and grand theft auto.

Welters was arrested Wednesday in Las Vegas. He was returned to San Diego Friday after waiving extradition.

Deputy Dist. Atty. John Rice said Welters had been a roommate of the other two men, but moved out a few days before the slayings.

Rice told the court his office is considering filing special circumstances allegations against Welters, but no decision on that has been reached. The prosecutor said he did not know the motive for the killings.

Gulka and Grant were crewmen on the amphibious assault ship Tarawa. Welters is a crewman on the amphibious transport dock Cleveland. Both ships are based in San Diego.