Altadena Murder Trial Ends in Voluntary Manslaugher Verdict

A Westlake Village man was convicted of voluntary manslaughter Thursday in a shooting case where the victim was an art professor from Altadena.

Steven Honma, 55, was acquitted of murder charges after defense contended that he had not intended to fire the gun when he shot victim Norman Schureman during a party in Westlake Village in March of 2010, according to the City News Service.

He will return to court for sentencing in January, according to Jane Robison of the County District Attorney's Office.  The maximum sentence for voluntary manslaughter is 21 years in prison, she said.

Schureman, 50, had taught at the Pasadena Art Center College of Design for most of his professional life, following in the foot steps of his father, who was also a long-time teacher at the school.  Following the shooting, hundreds of students, faculty and family members gathered at the school to remember him.

Honma and Schureman had been attending the same party in the 31000 block of Kentfield Court in Westlake Village.

Prosecutors allege that Honma was asked to leave the party.  He returned to his home, they say, and then came back to the party armed with two guns and a knife.