NYELAND ACRES : Beer Choice Allegedly Leads to Slaying

A Nyeland Acres man was ordered to stand trial Thursday for allegedly murdering his roommate after the two argued over the kind of beer the defendant brought home.

The victim, Jose Jesus Arrendondo-Sanchez, wanted Michelob. The defendant, Miguel Garibaldi, brought home Natural Light by Anheuser Busch.

Ventura County Municipal Court Judge Burton Henson set a Sept. 22 Superior Court arraignment for the 38-year-old Garibaldi, who had known the victim since childhood.

Deputy Dist. Atty. James D. Ellison said the 31-year-old victim had been drinking beer and watching television with the defendant and two other men Aug. 5.

“They were drinking all during the evening. The victim took out $10, gave it to the defendant and told him to pick up beer and cigarettes,” said Ellison, who questioned the two witnesses during Thursday’s preliminary hearing.

Garibaldi returned with a 12-pack of Natural Light beer, Ellison said.

“The victim said, ‘This isn’t the beer I drink. I drink Michelob,’ ” according to Ellison.

After a brief argument over the beer, Arrendondo-Sanchez started pouring the Natural Light down the kitchen sink, Ellison said. “The victim stated that he felt he had bought it, and he could do what he liked with it,” Ellison said.

Garibaldi, who is unemployed, ordered his roommate to clear the empty cans from the sink, Ellison said. He stabbed the man during the argument with a 10-inch knife, Ellison said.