Not-guilty pleas in Jenner Beach killing

<p>Five young men charged with murder in the killing of a witness near Jenner Beach -- a potential capital case -- pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Sonoma County Superior Court.</p><p>Quentin Russell, 25; Preston Khaoone, 22; Tyrone Tay, 26; and brothers David, 19, and Sarith Prak, 22, remain held without bail at Sonoma County Jail.</p><p>They are accused of the March 2 killing of Vutha Au, 24, who had been in the witness protection program in connection with a case in which police said his brother was the victim of an attack by two of Khaoone's brothers.</p><p>Although the charges could warrant the death penalty, prosecutors have yet to announce if they will pursue capital punishment.</p><p>Detectives say Tay was with Au before he and the other four men drove Au to a beach parking lot near Goat Rock on March 2. There, investigators say, Au was shot nine times.</p><p>A state park ranger en route to an unrelated disturbance saw the young men driving out of a beach parking lot about 1 a.m. and spotted Au's body moments later.</p><p>-- L.A. Carter</p>