Kruger guilty of murder

Weston Kruger

From the Daily Pilot

A torn pornographic magazine was the deciding factor for an Orange County Superior Court jury in convicting a Newport Harbor High School graduate Wednesday of first-degree murder for knocking down and killing a liquor store clerk.

The jury of eight women and four men took about nine hours at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana to find Weston Scott Kruger, 31, guilty of killing Newport Beach liquor store owner and clerk Hao “Tony” Huynh.

The 100-pound Huynh died after a scuffle with the 6-foot-5, 275-pound Kruger on July 28, 2007, outside Sportsman’s Liquor Store, 2615 Newport Blvd. The shopkeeper had accused Kruger of stuffing an adult magazine under his shirt while he was in the store buying a pack of cigarettes. Huynh chased him outside and a struggle between the two men ensued.

… Continue Reading: Kruger guilty of murder

Breaking News: Weston Scott Kruger found guilty of first degree murder

Weston Scott Kruger

From the Daily Pilot

A jury has convicted Weston Scott Kruger of first degree murder in the 2007 shoving death of a Newport Beach liquor store owner. The jury delivered a verdict of guilty Wednesday morning at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.

Kruger, 31, a Newport Harbor High School graduate, was charged with murder for fatally shoving liquor store owner Hao “Tony” Huynh. Witnesses testified that Kruger pushed Huynh so hard, that the victim was lifted in the air and landed with a crash on the back of his head that cracked Huynh’s skull.

Huynh had confronted Kruger about a trying to steal a pornographic magazine from Huynh’s Sportsman Liquor Store while buying cigarettes.

More to come.

Newport Beach therapist hosts dating group for ‘mature’ adults

Chey Love, left, and Toby Larson, right, are participants of the mature dating group overseen by marriage and family therapist Karin Crilly, middle.

From the Daily Pilot

Newport Beach resident Toby Larson always had a problem with falling in love too fast.

At 66, the retired English teacher who volunteers his time with the Newport Beach Public Library’s literacy programs is still looking for someone to share his life with.

He was briefly married several years ago, but things didn’t work out.

“I never seem to have much trouble meeting people,” Larson said. “My big problem is falling in love a little too soon before I fully know what I’m getting into.”

… Continue Reading: Dating sans baggage

Co-worker: Half-marathoner who died after collapsing close to finish line was trying to beat last year’s time

From the Daily Pilot

An Aliso Viejo man who died after collapsing near the OC Marathon finish line was trying to beat his time from last year’s 13.1-mile half marathon, a co-worker said Tuesday.

Geoffrey Jonathan Chao, 46, collapsed about 100 feet from the OC Marathon finish line at the OC Fair & Events Center around 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Costa Mesa Fire Battalion Chief Scott Broussard said.

An ambulance at the scene took Chao to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, where he was pronounced dead, Broussard said.

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The Early Edition

93-year-old pilot Vi Cowden arrives in a P-51C Mustang as part of "Wings of Freedom" at John Wayne Airport's Lyon Air Museum. Cowden flew the Mustang in non-combat domestic missions in

Flying on the wings of memories: Female pilot who transported planes during World War II flies a model she hasn’t handled in 60 years.

Pot clinics sue city: Clubs want court to keep Costa Mesa from enforcing ordinance because it violates state constitution, they say.

Locals to march in protest of Arizona immigration law: More than 35,000 expected to descend on Santa Ana today.

3-year-old struck and killed by car: Child wandered out of mother’s sight.

Day laborer sentenced in pickax murder: Slaying earns killer 26 year to life sentence.

Newport Beach Film Festival signs off with ‘Letters to Juliet’

Amanda Seyfried in "Letters to Juliet."

From the Daily Pilot

The blockbuster-bound “Letters to Juliet” will shut down the Newport Beach Film Festival tonight, followed by a closing night gala in the Via Lido Courtyard.

Shot on location in Northern Italy, the romantic comedy features heavy-caliber stars like Amanda Seyfried, Vanessa Redgrave, Christopher Egan and Gael Garcia Bernal.

“It’s most certainly going to be a huge crowd-pleaser,” said Erik Forssell, director of programming for the Newport Beach Film Festival. “It’s pretty hard to have Italy as your setting and a movie not work out well — it’s a total package.”

… Continue Reading: Film festival signs off with ‘Letters’

Environmentalists sue Newport Beach over plans for road

A group of conservationists is suing the city of Newport Beach to try to hold  up plans to build a park access road through a large chunk of coastal open space on West Coast Highway known as Banning Ranch.

In a suit filed Thursday in Orange County Superior Court, the Banning Ranch Conservancy seeks to hold up plans for Sunset Ridge Park in West Newport.

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Conservationists sue to block park access road through Banning Ranch

From the Daily Pilot

A group of conservationists is suing the city of Newport Beach in hopes of holding up plans to build a park access road through a large chunk of coastal open space on West Coast Highway known as Banning Ranch.

In a suit filed Thursday in Orange County Superior Court, the Banning Ranch Conservancy seeks to hold up plans for Sunset Ridge Park in West Newport. The group claims that plans for an access road for the park through neighboring Banning Ranch will pave the way for future development of the area. They also claim the city did not follow state environmental and planning laws in their approval of the project.

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Sea lion pup found on a roof in Newport

From the Daily Pilot

A Newport Beach surfer awoke to find a wayward sea lion pup on the roof of his four-story apartment building early Thursday morning.

Animal rescue workers have dubbed the sea lion Fiddler in honor of the musical, “Fiddler on the Roof.”

The animal apparently climbed up four flights of external stairs at an apartment triplex near Seashore Drive and 47th Street before a Newport Beach animal control officer caught him on the roof of the building about 6 a.m.

… Continue Reading: And they call him Fiddler

Return to Cuckoo’s Nest: Documentary highlights punk rock club from 1970s

From the Daily Pilot

Attendance at the legendary Costa Mesa punk rock venue the Cuckoo’s Nest had dwindled and the legal bills were piling up when club owner Jerry Roach locked the place up for the last time in December 1981.

The constant brawls between the punks, the cops and the cowboys at the pizza restaurant next door, not to mention fights with the courts and the City Council, got to be too much for Roach in the end.

“I just kind of picked a day and abdicated — just packed up my bags and went to another club I owned in Anaheim,” he said.

… Continue Reading: Return to Cuckoo’s Nest