Jury convicts man of manslaughter in Rohnert Park love-triangle slaying

Jurors convicted a Rohnert Park man Friday of a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter in the slaying of his romantic rival, believing his testimony that he stabbed the man in the neck seven times in an imperfect self-defense.

Daniel Dieters, 27, wept as the seven-woman, five-man jury returned not guilty verdicts on counts of first- and second-degree murder and settled on the lesser offense carrying a maximum 12-year sentence.

Jurors said they believed Dieters thought his rival, Roy “R.J.” Kauwe, 22, meant to hurt him when the two met inside Kauwe’s Laguna Drive apartment on March 20, 2014. Evidence suggested Kauwe had access to an arsenal of guns and knives.

The panel considered an acquittal on all charges, but ultimately found Dieters, described as a “gentle giant” for his large stature, used more force than necessary, said the forewoman, who declined to give her name.

“We believed he thought he was in danger but the belief was unreasonable,” she said outside court.

Kauwe’s family members and the woman at the center of the love-triangle, Kayla Lindsay, cried in court as the verdict was read.

Lindsay, Dieters’ longtime girlfriend, informed him the night of the slaying she was leaving him for her co-worker, Kauwe. Dieters then walked to Kauwe’s apartment, where the two struggled over a knife, Dieters testified.

“We’re all distraught,” said a Kauwe family friend, Debbie Hurst, as she left the Hall of Justice. “He went there to kill him. He obviously succeeded.”

Judge Jamie Thistlethwaite ordered both sides back Nov. 16 to set a sentencing date. Dieters is eligible for probation, said his lawyer, Joe Bisbiglia.

Bisbiglia said the case was overcharged from the start “based on the unique factors.”

“I don’t think he went over there with any animosity at all,” Bisbiglia said. “He is the gentle giant everyone says he is.”

District Attorney Jill Ravitch did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Prosecutors argued Dieters murdered Kauwe after being jilted by Lindsay. Deputy District Attorney Tashawn Sanders said he flew into a rage and went to Kauwe’s apartment armed with a knife given to him by his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day.

She said Dieters attacked the smaller man, stabbing him seven times in the neck. Lindsay testified she arrived in time to see her ex-boyfriend sitting on top of Kauwe with a knife nearby.

But jurors were apparently moved by testimony from the defendant himself.

In an often-emotional account of events, Dieters said he was depressed by his pending breakup and even thought of suicide, but did not blame Kauwe, who had been among his closest friends.

The night of the killing, he said he went to Kauwe’s apartment, unarmed, to talk about the situation.

But when he came inside, Dieters said Kauwe was acting strange. In fact, he had just received a call from Lindsay, who warned him she had just broken up with Dieters, according to witnesses.

Dieters testified tearfully that Kauwe brandished a knife and tried to run into his bedroom, where Dieters said he kept a loaded pistol.

He was stopped by Dieters, who grabbed him, and the two fell to the floor, he said. When Kauwe tried to get up, Dieters said he cut or stabbed his throat with a knife he had wrested from his hands.

After, Dieters said he called 911 and turned himself into police. He admitted killing Kauwe in a video-recorded confession that was played to jurors.

Police later found two knives in the apartment, including the knife Dieters received from his girlfriend. Dieters testified he assumed Kauwe had stolen it from him some time before.

Jurors said they were struck by consistency between Dieters’ testimony and his police statement. However, the panel felt his decision to take a life was based on a flawed view of a potential threat.

“He seemed very believable,” the forewoman said. “All the evidence supported that.”

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.