Two men to be arraigned in veteran’s death

Two Huntington Beach residents accused of causing a 77-year-old World War II veteran’s death after three and a half years in a coma from an assault and robbery will be arraigned Friday.

John Kirk McKinney, 27, and Curtis James Hill, 27, are charged with special circumstances murder committed in the commission of a robbery. The charges hold a minimum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Both men are currently serving sentences for assault and robbery for the same incident more than three years ago. The two are accused of attempting to steal items from veteran Cecil Warren on Nov. 11, 2003. Warren spotted the duo entering his van, and when he confronted them, they attacked him. They allegedly hit and kicked Warren in the head and stole his wallet before leaving him bleeding on the ground.

A pedestrian found Warren and called the authorities. Warren was able to give a description of his attackers before he slipped into a coma. He spent more than three years on life support before he died Sept. 22, 2007.

McKinney and Hill both were charged for the assault and robbery of Warren at the time of the incident. Hill pleaded guilty to one felony count of second-degree robbery, one felony count of aggravated assault and sentencing enhancements for great bodily injury to an elder and committing a crime against a vulnerable victim. He was sentenced to nine years in state prison in October 2006.

Hill was sentenced to four years in state prison for one felony count of second-degree robbery, one felony count of aggravated assault and sentencing enhancements for committing a crime against a vulnerable victim in February 2007.

Both are still serving their sentences and were charged Sept. 4 with causing the head injuries that resulted in Warren’s death.

Hill and McKinney will be arraigned at 9 a.m. Friday in room C-57 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.

— Britney Barnes