Convictions Upheld in Limekiln Canyon Slaying

A state appeals court panel Wednesday upheld the convictions of two men for the August 2007 slaying of a transient at a park in Porter Ranch.

The three-justice panel from California's 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected the defense's contention that errors were made in the trial of Quinn Alexander Marez and Justin Thalheimer, who were found guilty of first-degree murder for the Aug. 25, 2007, stabbing death of Daniel Koch at Limekiln Canyon Park.

"In short, there was more than sufficient evidence to support the jury's finding of first-degree murder," the appellate court justices wrote in rejecting Marez's claim that his conviction should be reduced to voluntary manslaughter.

Marez and Thalheimer -- who were both 18 and living on the streets at the time -- had been drinking with Koch and another man at the park when Koch became belligerent after Marez's girlfriend either ignored or refused his repeated requests to pass him a bottle of brandy, according to the appellate court panel's 51-page opinion.

After leaving and crossing a bridge over the creek, Marez and Thalheimer decided to return to make Koch apologize for his behavior, according to the ruling.

Koch, who had been living in the park, was found dead the next day in a creek that flowed near the picnic table where they had been drinking. He had suffered 52 sharp force injuries and 12 blunt force trauma injuries to his head, according to the ruling.

Marez was sentenced to 28 years to life in prison, while Thalheimer was sentenced to 76 years to life behind bars.

-- City News Service