Pacoima Man Convicted of Murder

A 28-year-old Pacoima man was found guilty of first-degree murder Thursday and could receive the death penalty for stabbing a Reseda man to death.

A San Fernando Superior Court jury found Shawn Hill guilty of murder with a special circumstance--a conviction that can carry with it a death sentence--in the Aug. 25, 1986, slaying of Stuart Margetts, 30. The jury deliberated for six hours.

Hill also was found guilty of robbing Margetts--the special circumstance--after the victim came to the Pierce Park apartment complex in Pacoima to buy stolen tools, Deputy Dist. Atty. Rosalie Morton said.

Morton said Hill offered to sell Margetts a substance he said was cocaine. When Margetts refused because he thought the drug was fake, Hill demanded money, the prosecutor said. Although Margetts began to comply, Hill stabbed him in the chest, claiming he was being too slow.

Hill also was found guilty of the August 27, 1986, attempted murder and robbery of Ronald Johnson, then 19. Johnson came to the same apartment complex to buy rock cocaine, according to police reports, and was confronted by three men, including Hill.

In that case, too, Hill offered fake cocaine. When Johnson refused, Hill stabbed him in the chest and robbed him, Morton said.

Hill was arrested the following day when his description matched that given to police by witnesses in the apartment complex, according to Hill’s attorney, Daniel Blum.

The penalty phase of the trial is scheduled to begin Wednesday. The minimum sentence Hill could receive would be life in prison without the possibility of parole.