FATHER AND SON ORDERED TO TRIAL NEIGHBOR SLAIN AFTER LONG DISPUTE.

Byline: DANA BARTHOLOMEW Staff Writer

SAN FERNANDO -- There is enough evidence for an Arleta father and son accused of killing a neighbor during a family barbecue to stand trial, a judge ruled Monday.

Alvaro Williamson, 41, and his 18-year-old son, Jacques, are accused of killing Filimon Ramos and wounding his 19-year-old son during a dispute. After a two-day preliminary hearing, Superior Court Judge Charles Peven ordered both to stand trial and set an arraignment for Feb. 13.

Bail was set at $4 million for the father and $2 million for the son. They are being tried together.

``Alvaro Williamson killed one and tried to kill the other,'' said Deputy District Attorney Paula Gonzales, adding that the father was aided and abetted by his son.

Each is charged with murder, attempted murder and assault with a firearm. If convicted, the elder Williamson faces 50 years to life in prison. His son, 17 at the time of the shootings, is being charged as an adult and also faces a possible life term.

Ramos, 39, a father of four, was killed June 25 in the driveway of his Woodale Avenue home. His son Filiberto was shot twice in his right leg as he tried to flee.

Neighbors had described Filimon Ramos as a man who neatly cut his lawn, kept his white fence immaculate and trimmed his apple tree.

Police described Alvaro Williamson, who lived in a town home behind Ramos, as a man with an angry streak who disliked children playing basketball in the street or adults parking cars along the curb.

The two men had argued over parking before, but on the night when the Ramos family was about to enjoy a barbecue, the tension boiled over, neighbors said.

Prosecutors allege that, when the argument became heated, Williamson directed his son to bring him a loaded handgun to shoot the elder Ramos.

Ramos was shot in the forehead, Los Angeles police Detective Charles Lenane testified.

The elder Williamson surprised detectives by turning himself in the following morning. He told a TV news crew parked outside the police station that he was surrendering, but that his son was innocent.

When asked repeatedly by a television reporter whether he killed Ramos, Williamson said, ``No comment.

``I'll clear it up right now,'' he said. ``My son had nothing to do with this. I'm the person you're looking for.''

Referring to the neighbors he allegedly shot, Williamson continued: ``It's been an ongoing dispute. They continuously harassed me. They've been bothering me for eight to 10 years, OK? And it's over with.''

dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com

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