Articles Tagged With ‘murder trials’




Man sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for fatal Nipomo DUI crash

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A San Luis Obispo County judge sentenced a Santa Maria man to 21 years and 8 months to life in prison for a second-degree murder conviction and other offenses stemming from him driving intoxicated and in the... (Continue reading)

Scott Peterson appears in court as Innocence Project seeks DNA tests in murder case

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Scott Peterson appeared in court virtually on Tuesday as part of his latest attempt to obtain a new trial over the murder of his wife and unborn child, this time with the backing of the Los Angeles... (Continue reading)

Killer who dumped body in Nipomo sentenced to 35 years to life

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A Santa Barbara County judge on Wednesday sentenced a Santa Maria woman to 35 years to life in prison for murdering a man whose remains were found on a Nipomo golf course in 2020.  Following a trial... (Continue reading)

Santa Maria man convicted of murder over Nipomo DUI crash that killed teen

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A San Luis Obispo County jury has convicted a Santa Maria man of second-degree murder for driving intoxicated and in the wrong direction on Highway 101 in Nipomo and killing a 14-year-old. On the night of March... (Continue reading)

Judge declares mistrial in SLO County fentanyl murder case

By JOSH FRIEDMAN After jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict, a judge declared a mistrial Wednesday in the SLO County murder case of a woman who sold fentanyl that killed a Templeton man. [Tribune] While the jury convicted Brandi... (Continue reading)

Jurors split on murder charge over SLO County fentanyl death

By JOSH FRIEDMAN San Luis Obispo County jurors split on whether or not to convict a woman of murder for selling fentanyl that killed a Templeton man, but a judge has thus far refused to declare a mistrial. [Tribune] On... (Continue reading)

Stepdad attacks stepdaughter’s killer in Central Coast courtroom

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A brief fight erupted when a grieving stepfather attacked his stepdaughter’s killer in a Central Coast courtroom during the murderer’s sentencing hearing on Wednesday. [VC Star] During the hearing in Ventura County Superior Court, relatives of the... (Continue reading)

Shandon murder defendant could be incompetent to stand trial

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A judge ruled Thursday that the Shandon man who stabbed to death his stepmother and wounded his father may not be competent to stand trial. [Tribune] On the evening of July 17, 31-year-old Justin Buchanan allegedly stabbed... (Continue reading)

2001 Morro Bay murder sentenced to life in prison

By JOSH FRIEDMAN More than two decades after a double-murder at Morro Strand State Campground, a San Luis Obispo County judge on Monday sentenced the gunman to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Stephen Arthur Deflaun, now 64,... (Continue reading)

Judge rules man was sane when he committed 2001 Morro Bay double-murder

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A San Luis Obispo County Judge ruled on Friday that a defendant was legally sane when he shot and killed a 37-year-old man and an 11-year-old boy at Morro Strand State Campground in 2001. Stephen Arthur Deflaun,... (Continue reading)