Man sentenced to life in prison in 2021 beating death of his Eugene roommate

Charles Gearing, Eugene Register-Guard
·1 min read
The Eugene residence where police conducted a murder investigation into the Nov. 21 beating death of Daniel Pizzutti.
The Eugene residence where police conducted a murder investigation into the Nov. 21 beating death of Daniel Pizzutti.

James Paul Cable, 40, was sentenced Tuesday in Lane County District Court to life in prison with the option for parole after 25 years in the 2021 beating death of his roommate in the College Hill neighborhood.

Cable was convicted of murder in the second degree in the death of Daniel Pizzutti, 35.

Cable received an additional 25-month sentence for assaulting a Eugene Police detective on the day of his arrest, Nov. 19, 2021.

Eugene Police said Cable hit Pizzutti numerous times over the head with a frying pan, leading to his death.

The defense waived its right to a jury trial and opted to have trial by court. The eight-day trial began July 11.

Chief Deputy Lane County District Attorney Christopher Parosa said the defense unsuccessfully argued Cable's intoxication at the time of the incident made him incapable of forming the intent to kill, which is necessary for a second-degree murder conviction.

Charles Gearing is a breaking news reporter with the Eugene Register-Guard. He may be reached at cgearing@gannett.com or at (708)262-7626.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Man sentenced to life in 2021 beating death of his Eugene roommate