Harry Mathis Recalls Violent Home Invasion in Court

Crime lab experts are testifying in court today in the case against ex-con Harvey Duson, who allegedly robbed and violently beat MTS Board Chairman Harry Mathis

The Former San Diego City Councilman and his wife Mary appeared in a preliminary hearing at the County Courthouse Thursday to discuss the violent home invasion robbery they experienced back on January 11.

Friday, prosecutors presented DNA evidence linking 45-year-old Harvey Duson to the crime.

According to investigators, Mathis was approached in his garage by two suspects with a gun who demanded money.

They got into a physical fight and Mathis, who’s licensed to carry a gun, fired twice at one suspect but missed.

Mathis was then brutally beaten and bloodied by the suspects inside his University Heights home.

According to Thursday’s testimony in court, Mathis and his wife discussed in detail how the masked suspects forced them to open up a vault and then a safe inside the vault during their search for money inside the home.

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Mathis said he struggled with the lock to the vault because his face was so bloodied.

The safe didn’t contain any cash, only guns, and the frustrated robbers then left with jewelry.

As they left the home, Mathis said they tried to set the kitchen and a car on fire.

Details also came out in court about how Mathis was forced to strip to his underwear during the robbery.

A neighbor who came to the aid of the couple on January 11 also testified in court Thursday.

However, the neighbor said they could not identify the suspect because they never got a clear look at the alleged attackers.

The preliminary hearing is scheduled to continue Friday, where the prosecutor said he’ll present DNA evidence that allegedly links the defendant to the home invasion robbery.

A judge will decide if there’s enough evidence to hold Duson over for trial.

Check back for updates on this story.