New Court Proceedings on Tap For Woman in Local Barbershop Killing

Further court proceedings are scheduled for Sabrina Octavia King, who pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in connection with the stabbing death of a Pasadena barbershop owner during a robbery.

A three-justice panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal noted that Sabrina Octavia King is entitled to a hearing on whether she established a “prima facie showing of entitlement to relief” as a result of a recent change in state law that affects some defendants who were convicted of manslaughter.

More than six months ago a state appeals court panel agreed with a judge’s findings that she was ineligible for re-sentencing under a change in state law that affects defendants in some murder cases. 

But another change in state law allows some defendants convicted of manslaughter or attempted murder to seek re-sentencing.

King was sentenced in December 2014 to 21 years in state prison in connection with the Sept. 20, 2011, killing of local barber King King.

The two are not related.

Davon Westley Moore, her boyfriend at the time of the crime, was convicted of first degree murder. Jurors also found true the special circumstance allegations of murder during the commission of a robbery and murder during the commission of a burglary.

Moore, now 33, is serving a life prison term without the possibility of parole.

In a December 2015 ruling in which Moore’s conviction was upheld, a state appeals court panel noted that Moore and King decided to rob the victim the same day she had met the barbershop owner and that Moore carried a knife with him “in case it gets crazy.”’

Police said Sabrina King entered the shop shortly before closing time and began talking to the victim, authorities said. Some time shortly after that Moore allegedly entered the shop and together they tried to rob it, with Moore allegedly stabbing King King multiple times in the neck

A laptop computer was taken and the barber was found dead near the barbershop, where he lived as well as worked. He collapsed after trying to get help.

Moore and King left bloody footprints leading away from the barbershop and into an alley in the direction of a friend’s house.

Police followed the prints, and as they conducted their investigation, Moore stepped outside of a nearby house and panicked when he noticed police. After he ran back in the house, police got a warrant, searched the house and found the murder weapon.