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North Hollywood man sentenced in killing of roommate

A North Hollywood man was sentenced Wednesday, April 9 to state prison in the 2012 killing of his roommate, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Manuel Garcia, 23, was sentenced to 26 years to life for the death of Jorge Hortencio Valladares.

On Feb. 24, a jury found Garcia guilty of first-degree murder.

Valladares, a 67-year-old Latino, died June 2, 2012, in the 12000 block of Vanowen Street in North Hollywood, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Valladares was assaulted around 2:40 a.m., after Garcia got into a violent argument with his live-in girlfriend.

According to testimony at Garcia’s trial, Valladares first called 911 to request help. When he tried to stop the fight, the defendant beat him on the head with a pot and stabbed him more than 30 times with a kitchen knife.

Valladares was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:55 a.m.

Garcia was taken into custody later that day.

-- Maloy Moore

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