CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SANTA ANA : Youth Convicted of Killing Roommate

A teen-ager was convicted of shooting to death his roommate and setting fire to the body to end an allegedly abusive homosexual relationship. An Orange County Superior Court jury deliberated for three days before finding Brian Applegate, 17, of Huntington Beach, guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Paul Londono, 25, on Jan. 8, 1989. Applegate, who never denied killing Londono but claimed he was the victim of an abusive sexual relationship with the man, faces a maximum penalty of 27 years to life in prison. However, because of his age, Superior Court Judge Robert Fitzgerald could send the teen-ager to the California Youth Authority, prosecutors said. Applegate shot Londono as the victim slept in an apartment they shared. He then wrapped the body in a sleeping bag, took it to the beach and set it afire.