By Lookout Staff

September 16, 2025 -- The case against a Venice man initially charged with the murder of a Main Street bar manager in June of last year has been dismissed.

The decision last Monday came after LA County Superior Court Judge Kathryn Solorzano determined at a hearing last September that the defendant, Leonard Hector Korpie, 27, should stand trial for voluntary manslaughter, according to City News Service.

The case was dismissed after prosecutors recently announced they were unable to proceed.

The incident took place around midnight Tuesday, June 12, 2024 outside Jameson's pub during a fight that broke out after the manager, Jaysent Clark, 50, asked several patrons to leave.

"Out on the street, one of the patrons punched the manager, causing him to lose consciousness," Police officials said at the time.

"When the officers arrived on scene, the manager was not breathing. Officers administered CPR until the Santa Monica Fire Department arrived and took over lifesaving measures."

The victim was transported to a local hospital, and the three patrons involved in the incident were initially arrested and booked at the Santa Monica Jail, according to police.

Clark died at the hospital of his injuries, police said.

Korpie's attorney, Adam M. Koppekin, refuted the contention that his client punched Clark, saying that it was the manager who punched the defendant in the head and that Korpie did not punch back, according to City News Service.

Koppekin said the County Medical Examiner found Clark's death was "the result of a cardiac arrhythmia due to the effects of an altercation, which induced a dysfunction on a heart affected by the chronic effects of atherosclerosis."

Koppekin called the incident "a tragedy at all levels."