CALIFORNIA BRIEFING / VACAVILLE

A death row inmate convicted of killing a Good Samaritan who tried to stop a 1997 sexual assault in Manhattan Beach died Saturday in prison.

David Arisman, 61, died at the California Medical Facility Hospice Unit about 5 a.m. He had been transferred from San Quentin State Prison the day before.

Prison officials said they could not disclose the reason for the transfer.

Arisman was assaulting a woman April 25, 1997, when two Office Depot deliverymen, including Michael Trinidad, tried to help her. Arisman fatally shot Trinidad and assaulted the other man.

Arisman had been arrested in 1990 on charges that included sexual assault. He pleaded guilty to lesser charges in that case and was paroled after serving five years.

At a later hearing, Arisman expressed no regret and said he wished he had killed more people. An autopsy is pending.

-- Jason Song