Suspect in killing going back to court

The San Diego man charged with the sexual assault and killing of Huntington Beach resident Dane Williams is expected to go back to court Tuesday for preliminary trial.

Philong Huynh, 39, is charged with killing 23-year-old Williams after allegedly drugging and raping him. He is also charged with an additional count of sexual assault for sodomizing another man. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Huynh began preliminary trial in San Diego in December for the other case, but the focus will turn to Williams on Tuesday, officials said.

Williams went missing after leaving a nightclub in San Diego’s Gaslamp district Jan. 26, 2008. He was there for a convention with Hurley International, where he was a marketing intern. His body was found three days later in a neighborhood alley.

It wasn’t until September 2009 that a DNA link between Williams and the second case were uncovered, and San Diego police arrested Huynh.

Both victims were allegedly abducted in the Gaslamp district.

Police said Huynh kept an unofficial residence only 800 feet from where Williams’ body was dumped.

The toxicology report showed Williams had a blood-alcohol level nearly twice what is legally considered intoxicated.

The report also found trace amounts of quinine, which is found in tonic water, and diazepam, or Valium. Authorities believe Huynh used the diazepam to drug Williams.

— Britney Barnes