SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) - A Southern California jury has ruled a man who stabbed his grandmother to death then set a fire in her apartment was sane at the time of the crimes.
The Orange County Register reports (https://bit.ly/1l1CBu9) Wednesday’s decision came in the second phase of Joseph Ettima’s murder trial.
The 30-year-old was convicted earlier this month of second-degree murder and other crimes in the death of 69-year-old Emma Street-Hardwick after an argument at her home.
Though jurors did not hear evidence of a motive, prosecutors say Ettima was angry his grandmother wouldn’t let him live with her.
If the jury had found him insane, he would have been committed indefinitely to a state hospital. Instead, he faces a sentence of at least 20 years to life in state prison.
Sentencing is set for March 7.
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Information from: The Orange County Register, https://www.ocregister.com
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