Tombleson Guilty of Manslaughter in Stabbing Deaths

Justin Tombleson, accused of stabbing to death two men outside an all-night eatery in Lake Forest, has been found guilty of voluntary manslaughter.

Tombleson, 30, has never contested that he stabbed Elvis Kechechian and Hossain Saidian, but jurors heard testimony to determine whether the Lake Forest man was guilty of murder or manslaughter.

Tombleson's attorney, Keith Bruno, argued that Tombleson acted in self defense.

This was not Tombleson's first run-in with the law. In 2004, he pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon or force likely to produce great bodily injury—in this case, a knife—and battery with serious bodily injury. One count of battery was dismissed. He was sentenced in April of 2007 to two years in state prison.

Both victims were Mission Viejo residents. Kechechian died at the scene, while Saidian, who had been stabbed in the chest and arm, died five days later.

Kechechian, 26, worked as a personal trainer in Ladera Ranch; he was buried wearing his gear as the ice hockey conditioning coach at Santa Margarita Catholic which last year won the State title and this year won the National title. He had been trained as a gymnast.

The incident occurred about 2 a.m. on June 11, 2011, after Tombleson's girlfriend cut in line in front of Kechechian. That eventually led to a confrontation between the woman and her friends and Kechechian, Saidian and two other men.

The situation was exacerbated when Kechechian's brother, Aris, spat on the woman, the explosive situation moved outside after management at Albatros Mexican Restaurant intervened.

According to Orange County deputy district attorney Steve McGreevy, Saidian, Elvis and Aris Kechechian, and another friend went bowling in Anaheim the evening of the deadly stabbing to celebrate the Saidian's 32nd birthday. The group had been drinking that night, including Aris Kechechian, who was the group's driver; he was nearly above the legal limit when he was tested for alcohol after the fatal brawl.

Meanwhile, Tombleson, his girlfriend and other friends went drinking and dancing at a bar in the Foothill Ranch area. The women in the group left the bar first and went to Albatros about the same time as the victims and their group.

The defendant's girlfriend, Erica Cardenalli, was waiting in line at the crowded restaurant, talking on her cell phone, when Elvis Kechechian tried to strike up a conversation, according to the prosecutor.

"Elvis thinks Erica is ignoring him so he does not like that. He starts calling her names," McGreevy said in his opening statement on May 7. When Aris Kechechian emerged from the restroom, he saw his brother arguing with Cardenalli and her girlfriends and made "the very bad decision to join this argument."

Aris Kechechian spit on Cardenalli, which got the attention of male patrons, and soon a massive brawl broke out, prompting restaurant employees to kick everyone out, McGreevy said, while Cardenalli urged her boyfriend to meet her at the restaurant.

When Tombleson and his friends arrived at the restaurant, the defendant ran ahead and asked his girlfriend what happened, McGreevy said. She pointed to the Kechechian brothers, and the defendant ran over to them, asking, "Which (expletive) spit at my girl?," the prosecutor said.

Several witnesses told investigators they saw Tombleson swing first, initiating the fatal battle. Tombleson was soon on the ground getting pummeled before his friends joined the fray, McGreevy said. Witnesses said they saw the defendant look in his pocket for something and then started waving an object that appeared to be a knife in a "circular motion" at the victims.

Sheriff's deputies were called just after 2 a.m. Elvis Kechechian was pronounced dead about an hour later and Saidian underwent surgery, but doctors determined he was brain dead, and he was pronounced dead nearly a week later.

Elvis Kechechian sustained one stab wound that punctured his aorta and "eviscerated" his intestines, resulting in internal bleeding, while Saidian was stabbed multiple times.

Investigators later found the knife near the restaurant and it had DNA evidence of the victims and defendant on it.

Tombleson's attorney countered that the case is "about the valid use of self-defense that resulted in tragic consequences for both."

Bruno alleged the Kechechian brothers "violently assaulted" patrons in the restaurant, and noted that when their group arrived at Albatros, they parked in a spot for disabled drivers: "When Aris Kechechian pulled up to that handicapped spot, he was saying, 'I don't give a (expletive) about consequences."'

The defense attorney said the brothers took off their shirts after they were kicked out of the restaurant and were walking to their car.

"What does that say? They're challenging anyone and everyone to a fight," Bruno said, adding that Tombleson was trying to talk to the brothers, who responded with their fists.

As Tombleson was being "stomped," he got a "work" knife to defend himself, Bruno said. One witness told investigators "the stabbing stopped the fighting," which Bruno said is the "essence of self-defense."