Case Dismissed Against Man Accused Of Killing Santa Monica Bar Manager

SANTA MONICA, CA — A bar patron who had been accused of killing the establishment's manager with a single punch in 2024 is no longer facing trial after a judge dismissed the case.

Leonard Hector Korpie, 27, had been awaiting trial on a voluntary manslaughter charge stemming from the June 12, 2024, death of Jaysent Clark, 50.

Clark, a manager at Jameson's Pub, died a day after an incident that began when he asked Korpie and two other men to leave the bar.

Police contend that a fight broke out outside where Korpie punched the manager, knocking him unconscious. But Korpie's attorney said his client shoved Clark after the bar manager punched him in the head — he denied returning any punches.

When officers arrived on the scene, the manager was not breathing. They began administering CPR until the Santa Monica Fire Department arrived and took over lifesaving measures, police said.

Clark was transported to a local hospital where he ultimately died from his injuries, police said at the time.

Korpie's attorney called what happened "a tragedy at all levels," saying that the county Medical Examiner's Office concluded that Clark had a number of medical issues and that his death was "the result of a cardiac arrhythmia due to the effects of an altercation, which induced a dysfunction on a heart affected by the chronic effects of atherosclerosis."

The lawyer, Adam M. Koppekin, contended that his client acted in self-defense.

"I truly believe he did nothing wrong," Koppekin said. "I do believe that justice has finally prevailed."

Korpie was initially charged with murder in connection with Clark's death, but Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Kathryn Solorzano found sufficient evidence to require the defendant to stand trial instead on the lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter following a hearing last September.

The prosecution more recently announced it was unable to proceed with the case, prompting the judge to dismiss the case.

City News Service contributed to this report.