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Man sentenced to 18 years for fatally stabbing housemate with scissors in University City

Brandon Ganskow was previously convicted for holding a knife to Kevin Crosthwaite’s neck; while on probation, Ganskow fatally stabbed Crosthwaite

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A man who fatally stabbed his housemate in the neck with a pair of scissors three years ago in University City was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in state prison.

Brandon Ganskow, 37, pleaded guilty in San Diego Superior Court to voluntary manslaughter in the July 8, 2019, slaying of Kevin Crosthwaite, 56.

Ganskow killed Crosthwaite at the victim’s Bothe Avenue home, where Ganskow had been residing. He had been convicted previously of assault with a deadly weapon for holding a knife to Crosthwaite’s neck.

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Ganskow was placed on probation in the assault case, and a protective order was imposed.

Deputy District Attorney Matthew Greco described the victim as a man with “a big heart” who “had seen the best in the defendant.” The prosecutor said Crosthwaite, who appaently didn’t feel that the defendant posed a danger to him, had petitioned for Ganskow to live with him while Ganskow’s previous criminal case was pending.

On Thursday, Ganskow was sentenced to two years in prison for the assault case, which will be served concurrently with the 18-year manslaughter sentence.

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