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Murder trial under way in death of ex-Napan
In San Diego, man accused of killing Vintage High grad
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CommentThe fate of a San Diego man on trial for the stabbing death of a Vintage High School graduate will soon be in the hands of the jury.
Michael Sullivan of Pacific Beach is accused of killing former Napan Jonathan Lefler-Panela, 25, during a Jan. 8, 2006, fight in a San Diego bar.
Michael Sullivan of Pacific Beach is accused of killing former Napan Jonathan Lefler-Panela, 25, during a Jan. 8, 2006, fight in a San Diego bar.
The murder trial, which started June 6, is expected to wrap up by the weekend, said Judith Lefler of Napa, Lefler-Panela’s mother.
“We are expecting to hear closing arguments by the end of the week,” said Lefler, who has attended the trial each day.
“We are expecting to hear closing arguments by the end of the week,” said Lefler, who has attended the trial each day.
Sullivan is charged with first-degree murder, felony assault and possession of drugs. If found guilty, Sullivan faces life in prison.
“The defense has argued it was self defense,” Lefler said.
“The defense has argued it was self defense,” Lefler said.
Around 1:30 a.m., Jan. 8, Sullivan and Lefler-Panela were inside the bar. Lefler-Panela was with his girlfriend, Nicole Hayes. At the preliminary hearing in May 2006, Hayes testified Sullivan was staring at her. Sullivan, a tattoo artist and ex-Marine, and Lefler-Panela began arguing, and it escalated into a fist fight.
The bouncer and a couple of patrons stepped in and broke up the fight. Sullivan and Lefler-Panela were escorted outside the bar through  separate exits.
The two met up again outside and the fight resumed. Lefler-Panela was stabbed at least 15 times and died at the scene. During the melee, Hayes and a bouncer were injured trying to break up the fight.
Around 6 a.m. the next day, Sullivan and his attorney went to the police station, where Sullivan surrendered. He claims he acted in self-defense.
Lefler-Panela was a bodybuilder who attended the same gym as Sullivan.
Lefler-Panela was born in Marin and moved to Napa when he was 8. After graduating from high school, he joined the Navy and served in Florida and San Diego.
“Jon had a good friend who was in San Diego, so when he got out of the Navy, he decided to move back there. At the time of his death, he was going to school and just trying to find himself,” his mother said. “He was dabbling in real estate. That’s what he was going to school for.”
Sullivan is in custody on $5 million bail.
The bouncer and a couple of patrons stepped in and broke up the fight. Sullivan and Lefler-Panela were escorted outside the bar through  separate exits.
The two met up again outside and the fight resumed. Lefler-Panela was stabbed at least 15 times and died at the scene. During the melee, Hayes and a bouncer were injured trying to break up the fight.
Around 6 a.m. the next day, Sullivan and his attorney went to the police station, where Sullivan surrendered. He claims he acted in self-defense.
Lefler-Panela was a bodybuilder who attended the same gym as Sullivan.
Lefler-Panela was born in Marin and moved to Napa when he was 8. After graduating from high school, he joined the Navy and served in Florida and San Diego.
“Jon had a good friend who was in San Diego, so when he got out of the Navy, he decided to move back there. At the time of his death, he was going to school and just trying to find himself,” his mother said. “He was dabbling in real estate. That’s what he was going to school for.”
Sullivan is in custody on $5 million bail.
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Redwood & Vintage wrote on Jun 27, 2007 8:52 AM:
Brothers wrote on Jun 28, 2007 10:40 AM:
loved like a son wrote on Jun 28, 2007 7:40 PM: