Hearings held and set in Tackle Box murder case

Madera County District Attorney David A. Linn has announced that Savirant Singh Athwal, 24, of Fresno, was arraigned Dec. 19 in Department 21 of the Madera Superior Court.

Athwal is the second suspect in the Tackle Box murder case. He is charged with the murder of Tackle Box convenience store clerk Dharampreet Singh Jassar, second-degree robbery, and a special allegation for murder while in the commission of a robbery.

The Court has ordered Athwal to remain in custody in that this is a no-bail case, due to the fact that the potential punishment is life without the possibility of parole, or death. The case is currently set for a pre-preliminary hearing in department 23 of the Madera Superior Court on Jan. 4. A preliminary hearing was also set for Jan. 12. Both hearings will be held in front of Madera Superior Court Judge Ernest J. LiCalsi.