Local News in Brief : Canoga Park Man Gets 4 Years in Fatal Knifing

A Canoga Park man was sentenced Tuesday to four years in prison for the fatal stabbing of a former co-worker in August.

Lance Negroni, 29, pleaded guilty in February to voluntary manslaughter in the death of Ruben Estupinian, 30, also of Canoga Park. Police said the stabbing, which occurred Aug. 28 near Runnymede Park, was the result of an argument between the two men.

Negroni, responding to questions from Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Alan B. Haber, said his wife accused Estupinian of trying to sexually assault her. Negroni said the fight erupted after he questioned Estupinian about his wife’s allegations.

Negroni said he stabbed Estupinian after Estupinian tried to strangle him.

“I had no idea he was fatally wounded,” Negroni said. “That wasn’t my intention.”

Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert P. Imerman urged Haber to impose a seven-year sentence, arguing that Negroni left Estupinian to die on the street.

But in asking for a four-year prison term, Deputy Public Defender Felix Leatherwood argued that his client has no previous criminal record, turned himself in to police and has fully cooperated with authorities.