SAN DIEGO — The preliminary hearing for a man accused of murdering a longtime Rolando veterinary in June of 2022 was held Thursday morning.
Patrick O'Brien, 38, faces a first degree murder charge in the death of 88-year-old Dr. Clark Kelly. Prosecutors say O'Brien broke into Boulevard Animal Clinic. Investigators suspect Dr. Kelly interrupted a burglary in progress.
Many of Dr. Kelly's loved ones sat in the courtroom.
His widow, Elsie Kelly, took the stand first. She had an emotional support dog at her side during her testimony. She grew emotional. She testified the couple had lived in a home on the same property as the clinic for the past 25 years. They had celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary the say day he died.
She said she was home when her husband was attacked.
Prosecutors said Dr. Kelly was found with a head injury. He was rushed to the hospital, where he passed away.
Dr. Steven Campman testified that though Kelly died of a heart attack on June 15, 2022, the death was classified as a homicide.
"In a circumstance when the stress is outside an activity of daily living ... then the death can be classified as a homicide," Campman testified Thursday.
On cross examination, O'Brien's defense attorney, Peter Will, questioned Campman about Kelly's extensive history of cardiac issues.
Campman said in his opinion, if not for the "precipitating event" of the alleged attempted break-in, Kelly would not have died.
According to preliminary hearing testimony, Kelly also suffered a head injury from an impact either with the floor or a desk. Campman said it could not be determined whether he was physically sent to the ground by another person or if he fell on his own.
O'Brien was arrested near the clinic. According to testimony, witnesses pointed O'Brien out to officers and they found him sitting near a trash bin about 30 feet from the clinic.
Kristian Howard testified that he was at a nearby liquor store when a woman ran into the store asking for help. The woman, who he later learned was Kelly's wife, said a man was "trying to break into our place," Howard testified.
Howard and another man walked over and saw O'Brien outside the clinic. O'Brien told the men, "I just bought the place."
The preliminary hearing will resume Friday morning with further testimony. At the conclusion of the hearing, a judge will rule whether the evidence is sufficient to have O'Brien stand trial on the charges.