Conviction in fatal stabbing (Manslaughter, not Murder)

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER ^ | Wednesday, April 12, 2006 | TRACY JOHNSON

[Sopater]

A man who stabbed a Microsoft Corp. program manager more than 200 times while high on methamphetamine was found guilty of manslaughter Tuesday when a King County jury couldn't agree to call it murder.

A few jurors believed Ronald Lakey was too intoxicated to actually intend to kill David Barzilai four years ago in Barzilai's Belltown apartment, one juror said later, so they settled on the less-serious charge.

The juror, who did not want his name made public, said the decision was "extremely hard" and that jurors believed Lakey would take back that night if he could.

Though disappointed, King County prosecutors were relieved the jury agreed the crime involved "deliberate cruelty" -- something that will let them ask for a longer prison term than the 14 to 17 years Lakey faces.

"It was a little perplexing that someone could be deliberately cruel without being able to deliberately kill someone -- but that finding will allow us to ask for a sentence that will help us protect society from him," Deputy Prosecutor Jimmy Hung said. "It's hard to imagine anything more cruel than what happened to David."

Lakey's attorney, C. Wesley Richards, said he was "pleased that they came back with manslaughter, given his mental state at the time."

[Sopater]

Lakey's attorney, C. Wesley Richards, said he was "pleased that they came back with manslaughter, given his mental state at the time."

Oh, for crying out loud. What does a "drug induced" mental state have to do with it? Maybe someone should have told him not to take drugs, right?

After killing Barzilai, Lakey covered the body and spent hours in the man's apartment talking on a telephone chat line, watching porn videos and stealing many of his belongings, police said.

[Gay State Conservative]

Was too intoxicated? Does that mean that if I'm hammered enough,I can do pretty much what I want?

[absolootezer0]

Was too intoxicated? Does that mean that if I'm hammered enough,I can do pretty much what I want?

no no no no no.. only if you're high. if you're drunk, charges and penalties increase exponentially.

[StikFigur]

Wow. I can't believe this! How can a man get away with brutal murder just because he injected meth!

[MaDeuce]

Why does it matter if the person doing the crime is high or "mentally retarded", or emotionally stressed.

These "facts" have nothing to do with the crime. The FACT is someone is dead, and if you did it, your guilty go directly to the gallows ... don't pass GO and don't collect $200.

[StikFigur]

I can't believe I have waited four years to find Lakey guilty of only manslaughter.

[pas]

People get away with things when they have money as well.

[freekitty]

This is stupidity at its height. Just beyond words as to how people are that dumb.

[VeniVidiVici]

How did I know it was a gay tryst gone bad?

[texas_mrs]

The juror, who did not want his name made public, said the decision was "extremely hard" and that jurors believed Lakey would take back that night if he could.

So would David Barzilai, but he is in even less of a position to do so.

[Bonaparte]

Wow! Great news for killers -- all you have to do is get high on some illicit drug and you can get away with murder in Washington state! Good deal!