A real life Sweeney Todd barber was sentenced yesterday in San Diego to a minimum of 10 years in prison for slitting the throat of a customer he was shaving and then fleeing the gruesome scene on a bicycle.
That decision concludes the 33-year-old victim’s quest for justice in the unprovoked attack that nearly ended his life, but still provides no explanation for why it happened in the first place.
Last October, Navy Petty Officer Tim Vaughn was having a haircut at Vic’s Barber Shop in Imperial Beach California, when his young barber Daniel Flores suddenly slashed his throat -- twice.
Flores, 22, then hopped on a bike and rode away.
Prosecutors say the victim and aggressor were total strangers, hadn’t argued, and the violent crime appeared to be premeditated in that Flores actually “waited until people left the room” before slashing Vaughn.
The still-traumatized naval officer testified at this week’s sentencing hearing, telling the court that the surprise knifing caused him such lasting physical and psychological harm it threatens to derail his military career.
Vaughn, who’s also a family man, could be discharged from the Navy now, since in his present condition he is no longer deployable.
The sheer brutality of the otherwise inexplicable assault he suffered, and it’s completely random nature, prompted the judge to add two additional years to the defendant’s recommended prison term.
“He is a great danger to society,” said the District Attorney, in successfully arguing that the real life Sweeney Todd should face maximum sentencing for his truly barbarous crime.
