VISTA, Calif. -- Two former Camp Pendleton Marines must stand trial on murder charges and special circumstances in the stabbing and beating death of an Oceanside business owner in a dispute over a car sale while they were still in the military, a judge ruled Thursday.

Raphael Ramey, 20, and Xavier Adams, 19, are charged in the Aug. 23 death of 23-year-old Charles Evan Williams. The pair separated from the Marine Corps in September, according to a Camp Pendleton spokesperson.

They could face the death penalty if convicted. Deputy District Attorney Minaz Bhayani said a decision will be made later on whether the death penalty will be sought.

Oceanside police Detective Bill Weese testified during a daylong preliminary hearing that the defendants were tracked down at a home in Fallbrook hours after the victim's body was found in the office of his business at 920 S. Coast Highway where he refurbishes and rebuilds old cars.

Weese said Williams' sister had driven by her brother's business between 1-2 p.m. on Aug. 23 and saw a man walking toward the victim's silver Cadillac.

That Cadillac was found at the Fallbrook residence.

After his arrest, Ramey told Weese and a partner that they would find the evidence they were looking for in the trunk of the car, the detective testified.

In the trunk, officers found a pair of bloody sneakers, two knives with blood stains and bloody clothing, Weese said.

At police headquarters, Ramey -- in a videotaped statement played in court -- told detectives that he was upset with Williams because he had paid $12,500 for a 1970 Chevrolet Impala in June and it still wasn't ready.

"He was lying to me everyday about my car," Ramey told the detectives.

Ramey said he went to see Williams the day of the killing and when the victim told him his car would be ready in two weeks, he "cut" him, the defendant said.

"What were you planning on doing?" asked Weese.

"Killing him," said Ramey.

"Had you planned on hurting him if he didn't give you that money?"

"I had dreams about it," said Ramey. "I felt like he was trying to (expletive) me."

Ramey said Williams tried to defend himself but "I was determined."

During the struggle, both men stumbled to a bathroom where Ramey said he stomped on the back of Williams' head.

"I did it," Ramey said in the videotape.

"You did what?" asked Weese.

"The homicide," said Ramey.

"How did you commit that homicide?" asked Weese.

"With a knife," replied Ramey.

"I knew he was dying," Ramey told the detectives. The defendant said Adams was outside the office and stayed by the door during the fatal attack.

The defendant said he purchased two knives from a nearby Wal-Mart a few days earlier and gave one to Adams to hold.

Adams told detectives in a videotaped statement played in court that he and Ramey had talked about "jacking" Williams before the day of the crime. Adams told officers he was armed outside the door and was prepared to stop the victim if he tried to get away from Ramey.

Adams also told officers he stabbed Williams a couple of times, Bhayani said.

Judge Joan Weber ordered Ramey to stand trial on murder and special circumstances of lying in wait, carjacking, robbery and torture. Adams was ordered to stand trial on all charges except torture. The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 29.