Napa State Hospital patient found not guilty in slaying
Jury agrees Carver acted in own defense
By ALISHA WYMAN
Register Staff Writer
November 27th, 2009
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A Napa State Hospital patient accused of stabbing and killing another patient was found not guilty of a manslaughter charge Wednesday.
George Aaron Carver was on trial after a March fight in which he stabbed David Wengell with the end of a hair brush that had been filed to a point.
The fight broke out after Wengell approached Carver in a TV room in the unit where the two lived. Wengell began punching Carver, and Carver struck Wengell in the eye with the end of the hairbrush, which he had tucked in his belt.
Wengell died at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital about two months later, after doctors took him off life support.
Napa County Deputy District Attorney Gary Van Camp asserted during the trial that Carver used excessive force in fighting with a deadly weapon he had fashioned prior to the confrontation.
Napa County Deputy Public Defender Joseph Solga argued that Carver acted in self-defense against a man known to be violent.
The Napa County district attorney’s office originally charged Carver with murder. Napa County Superior Court Judge Diane Price dismissed the murder charge mid-trial at Solga’s request.
A jury deliberated for about a day before issuing the verdict late Wednesday afternoon.
“I didn’t agree with the verdict, but it was a decision of the jury, and that was their view, so we will accept it,” Van Camp said.
Solga said he thought the jury came to “the just verdict.”
“I’m very thankful that they did the right thing,” he said. “It takes a lot of courage sometimes to do that.”
Carver will return to Napa State Hospital, where he is serving a life commitment.
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shgirl wrote on Oct 1, 2009 8:17 AM:
NapaNana wrote on Oct 1, 2009 8:37 AM:
Now......what about NSH?
Are they going to get away with allowing an unsafe environment?
Are they going to have to answer for their irresponsibility that may have caused this mans death?
AND......the fact that this innocent man was put through the wringer and has to live with the fact that he had to kill a man in self defence!
Boy oh boy......good thing I'm not in charge of that!
From the TOP down......toast! " "
NapaNana wrote on Oct 1, 2009 9:54 AM:
Now......what about NSH?
Are they going to get away with allowing an unsafe environment?
Are they going to have to answer for their irresponsibility that may have caused this mans death?
AND......the fact that this innocent man was put through the wringer and has to live with the fact that he had to kill a man in self defence!
Boy oh boy......good thing I'm not in charge of that!
From the TOP down......toast! " "
twocentsguy wrote on Oct 1, 2009 11:25 AM:
mykdgirl54 wrote on Oct 1, 2009 11:46 AM:
Lexme2 wrote on Oct 1, 2009 12:48 PM:
noseyrosie wrote on Oct 1, 2009 2:12 PM:
umanyar wrote on Oct 1, 2009 8:04 PM:
poker wrote on Oct 2, 2009 1:54 AM:
Personatly I think that the building is old and should start thinking of closing down since a lot of incedents have already occured. Unfortunatly alot of people will loose their jobs but hey I rather loose my job then end up with brain damage or who knows. "