Man Gets 16 Years To Life For Stabbing North County Roommate To Death Over Loud Music

CARLSBAD, CA - A man who stabbed his housemate to death in Carlsbad in a dispute over loud music was sentenced today to 16 years to life in state prison.

David Diaz, 33, pleaded guilty last month to second-degree murder for the Aug. 7, 2014 death of 23-year-old Asher Freeman.

Freeman -- who rented a room from Diaz’s family -- was stabbed several times in the head and neck.

A neighbor testified at an earlier hearing that she heard a man’s voice - - not Diaz -- demanding that the volume be turned down on music playing in the backyard. Later that evening, the neighbor said she saw Diaz dancing around
a fire in a bucket and making goat noises.

Defense attorney Matt Roberts told a judge that Diaz was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was 18 years old.

Diaz -- who called 911 after he stabbed Freeman -- initially told police the victim had been shot by two men in a drug deal gone bad and told officers one of the intruders swung a knife at him before fleeing.

Diaz originally pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity before admitting guilt.

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--City News Service/File photo