An Orange County Superior Court judge has dismissed a murder charge against Amir Karkehabadi, 59, accused of fatally shooting his neighbor at an Anaheim motel, but prosecutors may still pursue voluntary manslaughter.
A mistrial was declared last month after jurors split 11-1 for acquittal on second-degree murder and had already acquitted him of first-degree murder. Judge Patrick Donahue said a unanimous verdict on second-degree murder was “extremely unlikely,” but there was a “reasonable possibility” of conviction on manslaughter.
If convicted, Karkehabadi faces up to 21 years in prison with a sentencing enhancement for the shooting. The retrial is scheduled for March 13.
Karkehabadi is accused of killing 56-year-old Steven Hawkins on June 14 at the Villa Inn, 733 S. Beach Blvd., Anaheim. The two men lived next door at the motel and reportedly had prior conflicts. Hawkins was shot once, transported to a hospital, and pronounced dead an hour later.
Prosecutors argued it was first-degree murder because Hawkins was shot in the back while fleeing. Defense attorney Lee Stonum claimed self-defense, saying Hawkins had harassed and frightened Karkehabadi. Stonum highlighted in court filings that jurors were unlikely to unanimously agree on the facts, given the chaotic and split-second nature of the confrontation.
During the incident, Karkehabadi allegedly called Hawkins’ girlfriend a “whore,” prompting Hawkins to kick his door. The defense stated Karkehabadi feared for his safety and fired three times when Hawkins “rushed” him.
Karkehabadi has prior legal issues, including a racially motivated assault in 2023. Defense attempts to divert his case over mental health concerns were denied, though related charges were dismissed in May 2024.
The voluntary manslaughter retrial will determine whether Karkehabadi faces prison time for the fatal confrontation.
Leave a Reply