“My father was not just some homeless man sleeping on a bench,” said the son of a man who was killed in Mission Beach to his convicted killer in court on Jan. 2.

Michael Shook was talking about his father, who was also named Michael Shook, 65, who was stabbed three times and beaten before he was found dead at 5:30 a.m. on July 5, 2023, in Bonita Cove Park.

The son was upset when he addressed Daniel Ruben Martin, now 20, who was wearing blue jail clothes, and standing behind a glass module in San Diego Superior Court. He wanted to speak positively about his father who he insisted “was not just some homeless man sleeping on a bench.”

“He made a positive impact on many lives. He left a positive impact on San Diego since he worked at the bird show at the Wild Animal Park,” said Shook. “He also worked as a hospice nurse at San Diego Hospice.”

Michael Shook said his father was diagnosed with cancer and became homeless after his mother also was diagnosed with cancer and hospitalized. She later died, and Shook said, “My family has a lifetime sentence of grief.”

Martin, who was 18 years old when he participated in the death of Shook’s father, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter on Nov. 25. A murder charge was dismissed.

Judge Rachel Cano sentenced Martin to seven years in state prison. She imposed six years for manslaughter and added one year for possession of a deadly weapon.

A 17-year-old boy also was charged as a juvenile, but his case was handled in Juvenile Court and the results of his case are not public record.

Shook was stabbed three times in the torso including a wound to the aorta by the juvenile but Martin helped hold the victim down, said Deputy District Attorney Shane Waller. The victim had 20 rib fractures and burns to his face and head from a hot barbecue grill top, according to records.

“I want to apologize truly for all the pain and agony that I have brought upon your family and my family as well,” said Martin.

“I understand that anything I do or say right now will not make anything I did that morning OK or bring Mr. Shook back,” said Martin. “But I ask for your forgiveness to the fullest extent possible.

“I would do anything to go back and bring Mr. Shook back as he did not deserve that nor should this ever have happened,” said Martin.

“Throughout my time incarcerated, I’ve had my ups and downs. I’ve also sadly lost my father to a similar situation,” said Martin, without disclosing any details.

The judge gave Martin credit for spending 1 1/2 years in jail.

Shook’s son also told Martin that he hoped he would become a better person before the sentencing ended.

Martin may have matured some in jail because when police initially questioned him, he laughed, said Waller. He also made a quip to police as to why he and the juvenile left the victim deceased without clothing, saying “We thought it would be cool.”

Martin blamed the juvenile for much of the violence but acknowledged “We were taking turns on him, but when we left, I was pretty sure he was dead.”