Jury Convicts Man in Brother’s Slaying

A jury on Tuesday convicted a Camarillo man of second-degree murder for killing his younger brother in front of the family home after an alcohol-fueled fistfight. Randy James Waggoner, 38, faces a sentence of at least 19 years to life.

“This is an entirely appropriate verdict,” prosecutor Gregory G. Phillips said. Phillips had urged the jury to convict Waggoner of first-degree murder, arguing that Waggoner planned to kill Tracey Duane Waggoner, 35, on the night of Oct. 3.

But Waggoner’s attorney, Christina Briles, argued that her client feared for his life and killed in self-defense. Briles said she will appeal the verdict because the trial judge decided not to read self-defense instructions to the jury before deliberations began.

Waggoner told the jury that he feared for his life the night he fired a single, .22-caliber bullet into Tracey’s chest. Waggoner testified that his brother broke a glass mug on his face earlier in the evening and that he fled to a friend’s house. Several hours later, Waggoner said, he returned to the family home and began slashing the tires of Tracey’s car. That incident escalated into the shooting.

Briles argued further that the victim had a violent temper and the two brothers had frequent and violent arguments.

But Phillips pointed out that Waggoner left the scene and lied to police about what happened. Waggoner is scheduled to be sentenced July 12.