Concord Man Convicted Of Manslaughter In Uncle's Death

EAST SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, CA — A Concord man has been convicted of voluntary manslaughter for strangling his uncle to death outside an Oakland restaurant in 2017. Jurors reached a verdict Tuesday in the trial of Trevaughn Soriano, 26, for the death of 48-year-old Trevino Thomas outside Lena's Soul Food Cafe in the 2700 block of 64th Avenue at about 8:30 p.m. on May 17, 2017.

The verdict was a victory for the defense because prosecutor Malisha Jones asked jurors to find him guilty of murder.

"Both Mr. Soriano and I are relieved that the jury acquitted him of murder," Soriano's attorney Paul Feuerwerker said Thursday.

Jones could not be reached for comment on the verdict, but said in her closing argument last week that Soriano should be convicted of murder because she believes he intentionally killed Thomas.

According to Jones, Soriano said, "I'm going to kill him" several times before he strangled Thomas.

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Jones alleged that Soriano was "cold-hearted" and bragged about killing Thomas afterward.

Jones said the background to the strangulation was that Soriano's pregnant girlfriend D'Onicka Hal and her mother Kia Blacksher, who was Thomas' girlfriend, got into an argument with her over money when all four of them ran into each other at the restaurant that night.

Jones said Hal and Blacksher had been close but "the relationship fell apart" because of money issues.

Jones also alleged that Blacksher "had a problem with Soriano because she didn't think he was good enough for her."

Soriano's girlfriend and her mother got into a fight outside the restaurant and Soriano and Thomas also got involved in the fracas, according to Jones.

Feuerwerker argued that Soriano was trying to protect his girlfriend and acted in the heat of passion.

Soriano testified last week, "My concern was stopping her (Blacksher) from continuing to attack her (Hal)."

Soriano also said, "I felt my uncle had betrayed me by stopping me from protecting my fiancee and unborn grandson."

Jones alleged that Soriano didn't act rashly when he strangled Thomas because it took him 74 seconds to choke and kill him.

"He (Soriano) had a long time to think about it. He didn't act rashly," the prosecutor said.

Soriano faces between three and 11 years in state prison when he's sentenced by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Allan Hymer on March 15.

By Bay City News Service

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