Man Shot Dad to Get His Money, Car, Prosecutor Says

By PAUL ANDERSON
City News Service

A 23-year-old man shot his adoptive father in the chest and head in the victim’s Irvine condo in order to have a car and money to drive to Ohio to finally meet his “Internet girlfriend,” a prosecutor told jurors today, but the defense maintained the defendant opened fire because he was in fear of the victim.

The lawyers made their comments during opening statements in the Santa Ana trial of Steven Joseph Bruno, who’s charged with murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death.

Steven Bruno killed 60-year-old Ernest Bruno about 9 p.m., Aug. 30, 2012, with a .40-caliber semi-automatic Glock handgun, Orange County Senior Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Herrera said.

“Then he hopped in dad’s car and took off on a pre-planned road trip for his first visit with his Internet girlfriend,” Herrera said. “This defendant took out the one obstacle from making that pre-planned visit.”

Steven Bruno’s online friend had pressured him to visit, Herrera said. The defendant had not gone because he lacked money and a car to make the trip, the prosecutor added.

The victim was found a day after the shooting by his 17-year-old son -- David -- who had gone to his adoptive father’s residence so the two could go to San Diego to celebrate the teen’s birthday, Herrera said.

By that time, according to Herrera, Steven Bruno was driving to Ohio in his father’s GMC Envoy. He got a ticket for speeding in Utah and was caught in Logan County in Colorado after Irvine police got an arrest warrant, the prosecutor said.

Steven Bruno told investigators that his father “was in a rage” the day of the shooting, prompting him to try to leave, but when the victim saw the defendant load up his belongings in his father’s vehicle they got into a scuffle, Herrera said.

Defense attorney Leonard Matsuk hinted that he will ask jurors to consider a lesser charge of second-degree murder or manslaughter.

“I believe when all the facts come out, that your decision will be it was not premeditated, not willful, not deliberate,” Matsuk said of the shooting, which he alleged was prompted by “heated” passions and fear.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Thomas Goethals has not yet ruled on a motion to include lesser charges than first-degree murder.

Matsuk said jurors shouldn’t “excuse” the shooting and the defendant “is not asking for your sympathy.”

Before the shooting, Steven Bruno so feared his father’s wrath the defendant locked himself in the bathroom and put the gun to his head but couldn’t pull the trigger, Matsuk said. When he thought his father may have left the residence, Steven Bruno came out of the bathroom, but was surprised by the victim, leading to the shooting, Matsuk said.

An expert is expected to testify about the defendant’s state of mind when the shooting occurred.

The defendant, who has a learning disability, managed to graduate high school with a great deal of help from his mother and tutors, Matsuk said.

He was awarded a partial scholarship in a PGA golf management program at Mississippi State University following graduation from Corona Del Mar High School, but flunked out of school in his freshman year, Herrera said.

The victim and his wife adopted the defendant and his brother, David, at birth.

Ernest Bruno, who owned a business that sold golf clothes, was living in a condominium -- which doubled as his office -- at 17 Dartmouth, Herrera said. The defendant lived in a small space in the condo’s garage.

The victim’s business was suffering around the time of the killing and he had started drinking more and “had developed a temper,” Matsuk said. On a couple of occasions, the father “slammed” his son against a wall in fits of rage, the attorney said.

PHOTO Patch file photo.

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