| For Immediate Release Case # 09ZF0015
June 15, 2009 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
MAN FACES TRIAL FOR MURDERING ONE AND ATTEMPTING TO KILL ANOTHER IN APARTMENT PARTY STABBING
SANTA ANA – A man faces trial tomorrow for the stabbing-murder of one man and the attempted murder of another after getting into an argument at a party at an apartment in Anaheim. David Louis Vinci Jr., 24, Anaheim, is charged with one felony count of murder one felony count of attempted murder, and a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon. If convicted on all counts, Vinci faces a maximum sentence of 42 years to life in state prison. Opening statements are expected to begin tomorrow, Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at 1:30 p.m. in Department C-36, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
On June 2, 2007, Vinci is accused of going to a party with several friends. At approximately 12:30 a.m., 19-year-old Sean Pickett arrived at the party and got into a verbal argument with his girlfriend, who was hosting the party. Upon seeing Pickett and his girlfriend arguing, Vinci and a few friends are accused of joining the argument and escalating it into a physical attack on Pickett.
Pickett was able to run away from the attack and call his friends, including 23-year-old Andrew Thompson, to come join him at the party to protect him from the defendant and his friends. After returning to the party with his friends, Pickett and his girlfriend resumed their argument and the girlfriend told Pickett to leave.
As Pickett and his friends, including Thompson, left the party, Vinci is accused of yelling at the victims from the balcony of the second story apartment. He is accused of running downstairs with a knife and stabbing Thompson one time in the heart, murdering him. Vinci is accused of running away as Pickett chased after him. The defendant is accused of then turning and unsuccessfully attempting to stab Pickett.
Vinci was arrested the following morning at his girlfriend’s home.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Howard Gundy of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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