On Monday we reported about the mallpunk singer who got a little stabby. Today, thanks to a tipoff from SSC reader M’ris, we are pointed to news of his release.
From the Chicago Tribune:
The former lead singer for the punk rock band Mest will not be charged in the fatal stabbing of a 26-year-old man during a weekend argument in Studio City, the L.A. County district attorney’s office announced today.
The D.A.’s office said there wasn’t enough evidence to prove the killing was not self-defense.
Anthony Lovato, 26, and Wayne Hughes, 26, were arguing about a woman in the parking structure of an apartment building when the victim allegedly punched Lovato, police said.Authorities said Lovato pulled out a pocket knife and stabbed Hughes numerous times.
When police arrived at the scene in the 10900 block of Bluffside Drive, they found the victim lying wounded on the ground. He died a short time later at a hospital.
Lovato was detained Sunday and later released after posting bail.
And, as you would expect from a network with their news credentials, MTV has more:
Sandi Gibbons, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office, said the matter was a clear case of self-defense. “We determined that the suspect and victim had dated the same girl back-and-forth for over a year,” Gibbons said. “There had been threats, and the victim sent several threatening messages to the suspect. Apparently, there was some mutual combat and Lovato attempted to separate himself from the victim when the victim challenged him to a fight. The victim followed Lovato to an isolated spot in the underground garage and tried to fight him. Lovato defended himself, and there was insufficient evidence to show that it was not a justifiable use of reasonable force in self-defense.”
With the specter of a trial now gone, the question still remains of what exactly happened Sunday morning that resulted in Hughes’ death. According to police, Hughes and Lovato got into an argument in the parking garage of a Studio City, California, apartment complex. After Lovato was punched by Hughes, Lovato reportedly took out a knife and stabbed Hughes multiple times, after which either he or the woman called 911 to report the crime.
Hughes must have been damned punchy to warrant death by stabbing as an act of self-defence. Well, hey, i wasn’t there (Wtf, was the guy a professional boxer or something?).
Looks like all those kids making the “Free Tony” graphics for their MySpace pages have seen justice done:
“Behide?”
4 Comments »
That’s what i can’t figure out. Someone punches me because we’re arguing over some chick, so if i stab him to death it’s self-defence. I guess the dude had some life-threatening hamhocks at the end of his arms? I dunno.
What a mest this has turned out to be.
it can’t just be about “well, he started it,” right? i mean, the guy’s DEAD. and even one stab is extreme, but multiple times? it’s f’ed up, dude, for real.
also, your puns are mest up, man.
I can’t help the puns. They got started here and became a sickness. You couldn’t stop me now if you sprayed me with mesticide.
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Comment by joiezabel — March 28, 2007 @ 9:30 am
the saddest thing about this debacle is that now we are going to start hearing mest all over the place. talk about a career refresh - i bet a brilliant publicist is behind this.
stabbing a guy to death for punching you? is justifiable? uh oh.