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thedrifter
12-18-08, 07:20 AM
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Two guilty of murder in stabbing death of bouncer
Victim's throat was slashed on New Year's Day after an argument over which was the better branch of service — Army or the Marines
By LARRY WELBORN
The Orange County Register

SANTA ANA Two men were convicted of first-degree murder today for the stabbing death of a bouncer at a popular South County tavern after an argument over which was the better branch of service — the Army or the Marines — spilled over into a parking lot brawl.

Lorne Paul Kelley, 28, of Big Bear, held his head in his hands when the eight-woman, four-man jury found him guilty after three hours of deliberations in the slaying of Brandon White, 21, who bled to death after his throat was slashed outside the Time Out Tavern in Aliso Viejo on Jan. 1, 2007.

Kelley, who was also convicted of attempted murder for the non-fatal stabbing of Stephen Cirillo, 21, in the same melee, could get a maximum of 70 years to life in prison at his sentencing by Superior Court Judge Frank F. Fasel on Feb. 20.

Co-defendant Ricky Lee Nelson, 29, of Hesperia, faces a possible 32-year-to-life term in prison after he was convicted of first-degree murder under the legal theory that he aided and abetted Kelley in the stabbing.

Witnesses testified during the two-week trial that Nelson — who had formerly been in the Army — made disparaging remarks about the Marine Corps and then agitated for a fight in the parking lot after he and Kelley were ordered to leave. Several of the bouncers and patrons at the Time Out Tavern were active or former Marines.

The stabbings took place after Nelson confronted a bar patron, who was a U.S. Marine on medical leave after recently losing his leg while serving in Iraq, as he was leaving the bar with his wife near closing time, said Senior Deputy District Attorney Ebrahim Baytieh.

Several bouncers, including White and Cirillo, intervened, Baytieh said, and were stabbed by Kelley in the ensuing scuffle.

Deputy Public Defender Lisa Eyanson, Kelley's attorney, argued that Kelley acted in self-defense when several of the bouncers accosted him in the bar's parking lot.

Deputy Associate Defender Ed Eisler, Nelson's attorney, contended that Nelson had nothing to do with the stabbings because he was fighting with others at the same time in a different part of the parking lot.

Eisler said after the verdicts were announced that he believes the jury made a mistake. "That man is innocent," Eisler said.

Nearly 40 relatives and friends of White and Cirillo – including White's mother, father, sister and brother — watched the verdicts from the courtroom gallery.

"We're very happy and relieved and feel that justice was served, not only for our son but also for Steve," said Erin White, Brandon White's mother.

She said the family was grateful that the jury voted to convict Nelson of first-degree murder even though he was not the stabber.

"If he hadn't instigated all of this, our son would still be alive," she said.

Contact the writer: lwelborn@ocregister.com, or 714 834-3784

Ellie