Stabbing suspect found guilty of first-degree murder

By ERIC LINDBERG — Nov. 10, 2009

After less than a day of deliberation, a jury returned a verdict of guilty of first-degree murder in the case of a man who fatally stabbed his roommate at a sober living home in Santa Barbara last year.

Steven Shane Cisneros was charged with murder in connection with the slaying of Lawrence Glenn Kaiser, who died shortly after being stabbed through the neck with a 12-inch filet knife in the room the two men shared.

The defendant had no visible reaction as the court clerk read the decision aloud yesterday, but looked toward the jury box as each juror confirmed the verdict. As Judge Brian Hill gave a few parting comments to the jury, Cisneros bowed his head briefly and touched his fingers to the bridge of his nose.

He faces 56 years to life in prison barring any unforeseen legal developments. Deputy District Attorney Mary Barron said the normal sentence for first-degree murder of 25 years to life will be doubled because Cisneros had a prior strike under the state’s “three-strikes” law.

An additional six years will be added to the sentence for his prior felony assault conviction and a special allegation of personal use of a deadly weapon. Sentencing is scheduled for December 7.

“I’m gratified for the benefit of the victim that justice was served for him,” Barron said. “That’s gratifying, that the jury was able to wade through all the evidence and find justice for him.”

Doug Hayes, defense attorney for Cisneros, said he had been hoping for a verdict of manslaughter but wasn’t caught off guard by the jury’s decision.

“The state of that evidence allowed for any interpretation as far as I could see, all the way from not guilty to first-degree [murder],” he said.

He continued questioning the prosecution’s argument that Kaiser had been stabbed from behind, noting that the knife had pierced the victim’s neck at a straight angle, rather than slanted either up or down.

“You don’t push straight ahead,” Hayes said, arguing that a natural stabbing motion would have left the knife at an angle.

Cisneros took the stand during the trial and admitted to stabbing Kaiser, but said he did so out of fear for his own life. He said the victim had entered their shared room at the Lighthouse, 231 W. Haley St., on the morning of Dec. 11, 2008, and lunged at him with a knife.

Cisneros said he managed to wrestle the weapon away before Kaiser stumbled forward and exposed the back of his neck to the fatal knife wound.

Following the trial, members of the jury said they had difficulty believing that testimony.

“It was obvious that his account was not true,” said Dan Cornet, who served as the jury foreman. He added later, “There were so many things that just didn’t add up.”

As a result, the jurors spent much of their time debating between first-degree and second-degree murder, Cornet said. Many jurors were leaning toward first-degree murder, but several members of the jury were uncertain.

“There was no pressure at all on the people who had any doubt,” he said, adding, “I think we worked it from every possible angle.”

The jury deliberated for several hours on Friday before breaking for the weekend, and had reached a verdict after several hours of discussion yesterday morning.

Hayes said he remained confident in the decision to place Cisneros on the witness stand to give his account of the stabbing.

“I believed in what we did,” he said. “I would never let a client get on the stand if I believed he was going to lie."

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Bright side : 11/10/2009

He'll have a roof over his head and 3 square meals...oh and a place to work out...a television...free education...

SBRes

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Bright Side : 11/10/2009

Before he enjoys those luxuries.... he'll have to go through some beatings and sexual assaults..... oh well.... he chose his future.....

Oh Well

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Prison Life : 11/10/2009

Why is it that everyone seems to be ok with sexual assaults in prison? Isn't the point of prison rehabilitation and not torture? How is knowingly being subjected to sexual assault not cruel and unusual? Why doesn't anyone care about this? Aren't we civilized?

Baers

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Prisons aren't civilization : 11/10/2009

Who cares about the bastards in prison?

oh well

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Bright Side : 11/11/2009

Yes, he'll have to pay for those luxuries with some sexual assaults, but "We're all whores in some way, Mr. Finkelstein."

Von Wolfhausen

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Who Cares? : 11/11/2009

Dear Mr "Prisons Aren't Civalizations: Are you aware that 95%+ of those who are in prison will someday be released? Are you in favor of making sure that they are exponentially more dangerous when they get out? Many who are in prison are there for victimless crimes or minor offenses such as having a sack of weed and such other ridiculous reasons. You might want to re-think your idiotic position champ. Thanks

A Voice Of Reason

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HEY VOICE OF REASON AND BAERS : 11/11/2009

DUMMY UP! DO THE CRIME...GET BUTT RAPED! I DONT FEEL SORRY FOR THEM AT ALL...I FEEL SORRY FOR THE VICTIMS....IF PRISON WERE MORE HARSH, PERHAPS IT WOULD BE MORE OF A DETERANT.....SO STOP BEING LAME! THOSE WHO SAY PRISONS SHOULD BE KINDER, HAVE NEVER BEEB A VICTIM BEFORE. AND BTW....I WRITE THIS AS A GUY WHO HAS BEEN TO PRISON...SO MY PERSPECTIVE IS COMPLETE! AND NO I DONT WANT TO HEAR YOU SNIVEL ABOUT MY OPINION!

WOWO MAN

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Sounds like : 11/11/2009

You enjoy talking about butt rape WOWO Man.

Hector your mama

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Prisons are a reflection of the society that created them : 11/11/2009

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WoWo Man : 11/11/2009

The only guys who get it in the ass in prison are the ones who enjoy it champ. You seem to know an awful lot about this subject....What's up with that? Are you an old catchers mitt?

Voice Of Reason

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