Man gets 60 years for killing

Kim Smith

Tuesday, March 21, 2000 | 11:03 a.m.

A Las Vegas man was sentenced Monday to 60 years in prison for slashing one man to death and a knife attack on another.

Lorne Richardson, 25, will have to serve at least 12 years before he is eligible for parole in the death of Jason Mann, 22, and the attempted murder of Jason Grizzle.

Richardson was sentenced by District Judge Joseph Bonaventure in a courtroom crowded with family members of the victims, many of whom were wearing pins bearing a picture of Mann.

Bonaventure said he couldn't get over the difference between the person depicted in the many letters from Richardson's family and former co-workers and the man in the court records.

"It's almost like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," Bonaventure said.

Deputy District Attorney Christopher Lalli said that on the morning of May 23, Grizzle, Mann and Tony Spaan were relaxing outside the Polo Club Apartments on Decatur Boulevard when Richardson began flashing a laser light in their faces.

Words were exchanged among the four, then the three younger men began walking away, Lalli said. Richardson followed them around a fence and accused them of stealing his pants. More words were exchanged and Richardson ended up being punched and shoved back.

The three men walked away again, but Richardson charged Grizzle from 15 to 20 feet away, stabbing him in the back of the neck, Lalli said. Mann and Spaan tried to get the knife away, and in the process, Richardson fell to the ground and Mann landed on top of him.

Lalli said Richardson reached up with the knife and repeatedly slashed and stabbed Mann. The victim died of a wound to the neck.

Grizzle told Bonaventure he wasn't happy that Richardson was allowed to enter a plea agreement, saying that the man who killed his best friend should never be allowed to walk the streets again. His friend died trying to save his life, Grizzle said.

"I don't understand how somebody can do something like this," Grizzle said.

Richardson, who was originally charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Mann's death.

Richardson, who showed no emotion during the often tearful testimonials, apologized to the family and said he only wished that the younger men had stopped beating him. He pointed out that he received a broken jaw during the incident.

In addition to the prison term, Bonaventure also ordered Richardson to pay more than $10,500 in restitution.