NYELAND ACRES : Roommate Convicted in Slaying Over Beer

A Nyeland Acres man who killed his roommate after bringing home the wrong brand of beer was convicted of murder Monday by a Ventura County jury.

The jury, which deliberated a day and a half, found Miguel Garibaldi guilty of second-degree murder and of using a deadly weapon in the Aug. 5, 1994, stabbing of Jesus Arrendondo-Sanchez, 31.

Garibaldi, 38, faces a mandatory term of 16 years to life in prison, said Deputy Dist. Atty. James D. Ellison, who prosecuted the case.

“There’s no question that he stabbed the defendant in a fit of anger,” Ellison said.

Garibaldi’s attorney had argued the crime was brought on by the constant humiliation Garibaldi had suffered from the victim, including a harangue about the beer the night of the stabbing.

The two men argued after the defendant brought home a 12-pack of Natural Light beer by Anheuser-Busch instead of Michelob.

Arrendondo-Sanchez believed he was entitled to pick the brand of beer because he paid for it--Garibaldi thought the beer should be his choice because he made the trip to the store.

The pair had a long history of arguing. Witnesses said the victim complained that Garibaldi was unemployed and did not pay rent or buy food.

“I thought we had a chance on this,” said Deputy Public Defender Joseph Villasana, who had argued that Garibaldi was guilty of the lesser crime of manslaughter.

“We presented a lot of evidence from roommates that this victim was a bully who enjoyed taunting my client and making him angry, and he did it once too much in essence. But the jury felt differently.”