Man pleads guilty to killing punk rock drummer in Anaheim

SANTA ANA — A 38-year-old man faces 15 years to life in prison next week when he is scheduled to be sentenced in the beating death of his friend, a drummer for the local punk rock band Knightenders in Anaheim.

Arthur Fenwick Williams of Santa Ana pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder in the July 20, 2019, killing of 48-year-old David Patrick McCabe of Dana Point in the 1500 block of West Center Street, according to court records. Williams is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 31. Williams was about to go on trial for the murder when he entered his plea.

The two had been at the Doll Hut bar that night and were hanging out at Capistrano Beach earlier in the day, according to a prosecution trial brief. Shauna Kuhn, a friend of McCabe’s who was with them, said Williams “repeatedly brought up drug use and said he had been up for a week and was using methamphetamine,” according to the trial brief.

Williams was found unconscious in Santiago Park on July 20, 2019, and was taken to a hospital in Orange, prosecutors said. Williams attempted to leave the hospital July 24, 2019, against medical advice, but his family said he had “suicidal ideations” so the defendant was placed on a psychiatric hold, prosecutors said.

Williams’ family was aware police wanted the defendant so they called authorities and he was placed under arrest.

Mitchell Timbanard of the Alternate Defender’s Office said in his trial brief that his client “killed his friend David McCabe after a long day and night of drinking. By all accounts, David and Arthur were friends, but something occurred at the end of a long day of drinking that caused Mr. Williams to kill his friend.”

After spending time earlier in the day in the Dana Point area they went to see a punk band at the Doll Hut, where McCabe was well-known, Timbanard wrote in the brief.

After they left the bar “things got ugly,” the defense attorney said.

“Surveillance video from the parking lot shows Dave and Arthur walking around and talking side by side in a seemingly normal manner,” according to Timbanard.

“At some point that changes and Arthur becomes very aggressive toward David, headbutting, pushing and striking David. …. Mr. McCabe appears to make no effort to protect himself and never appears to throw a punch at Mr. Williams.”

Williams then took McCabe’s car and was aimlessly driving around for about an hour, Timbanard said. Police eventually found the victim’s car in a Rowland Heights strip mall parking lot.

Williams got his mother to get him an Uber ride to Santa Ana “where he showed up crying at his old friend’s home,” the defense attorney said. He told his friends he thought he killed the victim and the dispute was over whether Los Angeles or Orange County is better, he said.

Williams was found overdosed in the park and was revived by paramedics and doctors at the hospital, Timbanard said.