Appellate court ruled that evidence identifying Davis as the killer was “overwhelming.”
State appellate justices on March 25 affirmed the second-degree murder convictions of Roy Antonio Davis, the man sentenced to life in prison for the 2018 pickax killing of an 88-year-old Santa Monica resident.
California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal issued a 24-page ruling describing the evidence against Davis as “overwhelming.” The three justices on the panel also noted that Davis’ lawyer never argued that his client was innocent.
Santa Monica detectives linked the now 34-year-old defendant to the Jan. 1, 2018, death of John Hautz, who was struck in the head and chest with a pickax inside his apartment. Hautz was described as a popular man in his neighborhood.
Less than two weeks later, Davis fatally stabbed 28-year-old Kenneth Schmitt more than 100 times near a Hollywood Boulevard nightclub. The victim had defensive wounds as he fought for his life.
Jurors in the original trial opted for second-degree murder convictions after the defense successfully argued that Davis lacked the specific intent required for first-degree charges. The appellate panel noted that Davis attempted to evade detection at the Santa Monica scene by locking the front door from the inside and exiting through a rear window.
Davis remains in state prison serving a sentence of 32 years to life.
