Recently a well known developer in San Jose, Calif was killed by, I
think, a girlfriend. He lived in San Jose & Carmel Highlands.  Can
anyone give me his name?

Hello alicestewart-ga,

Here are some articles about the murder you're asking about. The
developer's name is Birk McCandless.

~ czh ~

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/the_valley/11148043.htm
Posted on Wed, Mar. 16, 2005 
Valley developer stabbed to death
BIRK MCCANDLESS SLAIN IN SARATOGA; WOMAN HELD

A prominent developer best known for the Santa Clara twin towers
office complex that houses the popular Birk's restaurant was stabbed
to death Tuesday in his Saratoga townhome -- allegedly by a girlfriend
who was on bail for attacking him with a knife earlier this year.


http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/the_valley/11168449.htm
Posted on Fri, Mar. 18, 2005 
In developer's slaying, a romance unraveled
FRIEND DETAILS START, END OF RELATIONSHIP

It started last year as a friendship, then turned to romance, and
finally, on Tuesday, to a violent death.

Nan Yang was a hostess at a popular Japanese restaurant in Cupertino.
Birk McCandless -- at 57, 30 years her senior -- was a wealthy
developer who would stop by.

They struck up a friendship. And he was more than happy to try to help
Yang straighten out her life, especially to help her out of a legal
jam.

Her problem? She was facing charges for allegedly trying to kill her
former boyfriend.


http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/03/16/BAG0TBQ3I31.DTL
SARATOGA 
Real estate developer slain in his townhouse 
Suspect in stabbing had been held in prior attack on him
Wednesday, March 16, 2005

A Silicon Valley real estate developer and restaurant owner was
stabbed to death Tuesday morning in his Saratoga townhouse, and
authorities quickly arrested his suspected killer, a suicidal woman
who was free on bail from an earlier alleged attack on him.

At the time Birk was killed, he was with a 31 year old Chinese woman. 
The 27 year old Chinese woman chased to kill 31 year old but failed. 
Birk has numerous Chinese women girl friends or sex mates at the same
time.  He played with the fire, treating sex as philanthropyist
activity.