http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-pickax-murder,0,5392489.story
SANTA ANA -- A day laborer who repeatedly hit his boss with a shovel, and then used a pickax to crush his head, was sentenced Friday to 26 years to life in prison.
Ernesto Hernando Avalos, 23, of Santa Ana was convicted in March of the Jan. 27, 2007, death of Woo Sung Park, a 45-year-old Rancho Santa Margarita father who owned a landscaping business, Blue Bird Landscape.
Prosecutors say Park hired Avalos and another man to work at a home in the Shady Canyon neighborhood of Irvine.
After lunchtime, the other worker went to the home's back yard, and saw Park lying motionless on the ground, while Avalos held a shovel, Deputy District Attorney Steve McGreevy said.
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A neighbor called police, who responded and ordered Avalos to put down the shovel.
Avalos dropped the shovel, but then picked up a pickax and smashed it in the head of the 45-year-old Rancho Santa Margarita father.
Avalos was arrested after police used a less-lethal weapon on him.
During a police interview, Avalos said he had taken methamphetamine that morning, and that he was angry at Park for stating he was working too slowly, McGreevy said.
During his opening statement, Deputy Public Defender Arthur Phan described Avalos' attack as an act of self-defense.
Avalos, whom was criticized by his boss, feared an attack, the lawyer said.
If convicted, Avalos faces 16 years to life in prison.
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