Ricardo Medina, Jr. Charged With Murder

This was certainly a long time coming, wasn't it?  Obviously LA County wanted all its ducks in order before moving on this case.


You may recall (or you may not) that last January (yep, almost a year ago) Medina fatally stabbed his roommate with a sword (don't we all have them lying around?) after a dispute at their home.  At the time it was reported that Joshua Sutter was stabbed once after arguing with Medina and Medina called the paramedics immediately after stabbing Sutter.  It sounded at the time as if this may have been self-defense or even involuntary manslaughter.


My, how things change.  Medina was arrested today and is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday.  It's being reported that prosecutors will ask for bail to be set at a cool million, which seems to assure that he will still in jail throughout the trial unless he has a connection or connections in the industry that is/are willing to pony up some bank for him. 


It's also being reported now that Medina stabbed Sutter "multiple times," which creates a bit of a problem with the self-defense theory in my book.  Unless Sutter was under the influence of something like LSD, one poke with a sword would likely end an altercation so . . .


The argument also allegedly began over Medina's girlfriend, resulting in Sutter forcing his way into Medina's bedroom where the fatal altercation occurred. 


If Medina is convicted, he could face up to 26 years in prison, which indicates prosecutors are looking at voluntary manslaughter versus involuntarily manslaughter or second degree murder. 

Ricardo Medina, Jr.: Another Actor Loses His Shit?

What is it with Hollywood anyway?  First we have O.J. Simpson, who gets all pissy because his ex-wife has the nerve to get over him and grabs his trusty knife and then we have Skylar DeLeon, some second rate actor (also a Power Ranger of sorts, coincidence?) who wants a big honking boat and thinks the best way to get one is to rob the owners and then throw them, alive, overboard chained to a cement block.   What the what? 

I'll admit that when I first saw the headlines I assumed that this Medina guy was probably another ass who didn't get his way or whose (quasi) career tanked and he just couldn't handle it.  Okay, he still could be someone whose career never really took off.  He seems to be best known for the Power Rangers franchise and the news reports indicate he lives in Palmdale, which I don't think is a big draw for the Hollywood set.  Anyhow . . .

Per CNN, he was arguing with his roommate Joshua Sutter and the argument turned into a physical altercation.  Medina allegedly retreated to his room with his girlfriend and Sutter - -a glutton for punishment?  not thinking clearly in the least? - - followed and forced the door open.  Medina then allegedly stabbed him once in the abdomen with a sword kept by the door.

Questions, questions.  First, why did he have a sword by the door?  These typically aren't things found in your average household.  Were drugs and alcohol involved?  Was Sutter brandishing any kind of weapon or was he physically assaulting Medina?  The article indicates that the argument became physical but it does not state who became physical. 

I had a roommate eons ago that I had issues with.  We ended up fighting over a guy (naturally) but it never became physical.  It was more bitchy backstabbing, eye rolling and theft (by her of some of my property.)  As much as she annoyed me and as stupid as we were fighting over some chucklehead, and irrational and immature in our early twenties, it never crossed my mind to just stab her.  Or do anything else physical for that matter.

It will be interesting to see where this goes.  Will this be considered self-defense?  Second degree murder?  Manslaughter?  Reckless homicide?  Medina is currently being held on a million dollar bail but as yet, no charges have been pressed against him.