South San Francisco man stabs roommate over smoking

[ZombieHorde]

By Joshua Melvin

A South San Francisco man faces attempted murder charges for stabbing his roommate in the face and neck after a disagreement about smoking on a balcony turned violent, officials said.

Bernie Castro, 58, started arguing with his 48-year-old roommate after the man left the balcony door open in the first block of Gardiner Avenue while he had a cigarette on Nov. 11, said South San Francisco Sgt. Joni Lee. The roommate, who has shared a house with Castro for three years, came back in after the cigarette and opened some windows.

The arguing escalated to violence when Castro allegedly punched the victim in the mouth. Lee said the fight stopped there and the victim went into his room for about 30 minutes.

But after he went out to smoke another cigarette, the arguing started up again. This time, however, Castro pulled out a folding knife and began attacking his roommate, Lee said. He was stabbed about eight times in the head, neck and face but is expected to recover, she added.

"It's just another good reason not to smoke," Lee said.

Castro is due back in court Dec. 9 and faces up to nine years in prison if convicted, said San Mateo County Assistant District Attorney Karen Guidotti. He is in custody in lieu of $500,000 bail.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/localnews/ci_13869376">Link

[dems_rightnow]

1. Prison has a large smoking population

Time for an attitude adjustment, I think.

[name not needed]

2. Has a large stabbing population too.

He'll fit right in.

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. Has an increasing population too

By at least one, very soon.

[ZombieHorde]

8. I wonder if he will be mistreated because he stabbed someone over smoking. nt

[musette_sf]

3. stay classy, South City n/t

[msongs]

4. somehow I think this about more than just smoking nt

[virgogal]

5. I cannot believe the attitude of Sgt. Lee. Unbelievable.

[ixion]

6. "It's just another good reason not to smoke," Lee said.

No, it's a good reason not to be psychotic.

[varelse]

9. Gallows humor, probably

I really doubt she was serious.