SANTA PAULA : Jury Finds Lopez Guilty in Slaying
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A troubled jury that came close to deadlocking after deliberating for nearly two weeks found a Santa Paula man guilty of second-degree murder Tuesday.
David C. Lopez, 40, was convicted of killing construction worker Pedro Severa and wounding two of Severa’s co-workers last October.
Lopez, who has a lengthy criminal history, could be sent to prison for 25 years to life when he is sentenced Sept. 20.
The jury deliberations lasted nearly as long as the trial and were plagued with discord.
One juror was bounced for misconduct, another was admonished for continually arriving late for deliberations, and two others complained of inappropriate discussions outside the jury room.
On Thursday, the jury foreman told Campbell that the panel was hopelessly deadlocked, and a mistrial seemed imminent. But the judge asked the jury to continue deliberating. A new foreperson was elected, and the jury delivered a verdict Tuesday.
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