BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS

A man accused of bludgeoning a Long Beach woman moved closer to trial

Tuesday after an Orange County judge ruled there was sufficient evidence

to set a trial date.

Newport Beach resident Walter Cordell, 44, is set to appear Feb. 28

for trial. He appeared at the Harbor Justice Center for a preliminary

hearing Tuesday.

The district attorney’s office has charged Cordell with attempted

murder and assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly bludgeoning Laura

Kirstein, 38, at his Superior Avenue home on Dec. 20.

The two were not dating, prosecutors said. Yet, Kirstein had once

rejected a marriage proposal from the man.

Cordell is being held in Orange County Jail, with bail set at

$500,000.