Local News in Brief : Pine Valley

A Navy man was found guilty Tuesday of first-degree murder in the grisly slaying of his former roommate, who allegedly had tried to rape the defendant’s wife.

Lawrence Morris, 28, who is stationed in San Diego, faces a sentence of 26 years to life in state prison, Deputy Dist. Atty. Daniel Lamborn said.

San Diego Superior Court Judge William Kennedy set sentencing for April 26.

Morris admitted to the jury last week that he slit the throat of Scott Hill, 27, a Navy instructor, in March, 1987, after they and a third man went to Pine Valley.

The other man, Douglas Ingham, 23, of San Diego, will go on trial Monday for his role in the slaying. Lamborn said that after Morris slit the victim’s throat, Ingham mutilated the body.

Morris claimed he killed Hill in a sudden, violent rage while intoxicated. His attorney, Frank Nageotte, asked for a guilty verdict of voluntary manslaughter.

Morris’ wife testified that Hill had tried to rape her when he was drunk and Morris was at sea but that she successfully fought him off. Morris later learned of the incident but was told that Hill had raped his wife.

The jury deliberated one day before reaching its decision.

“I was pleased with the verdict, the prosecutor said. “The jury rejected any intoxication defense . . . and said this was a cold, calculated murder.”

Lamborn said jurors told him that Morris described the killing “without any feeling.”

Nageotte had argued to jurors that the slaying was “a spontaneous explosion” after Morris “completely lost control of himself.”

The body was found April 14, 1987, in an isolated Pine Valley campground by three campers.

Morris and Ingham remain in County Jail.