Thread: Mexican invader guilty in shooting death of cop

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/11 ... 191235.txt

Jury: Camacho guilty of first-degree murder; punishment yet to be decided

By: MARK WALKER - Staff Writer

After less than 10 hours of deliberation, a Superior Court jury on Monday found gang member Adrian Camacho guilty of first-degree murder in the June 2003 slaying of an Oceanside police rookie.

The jury's job is not done. On Nov. 28, the panel will reconvene to begin hearing testimony that could decide whether Camacho, 30, gets the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole for the killing of 27-year-old Officer Tony Zeppetella in a bank parking lot after what started out as a routine traffic stop.

When he heard the verdict, Camacho's shoulders slumped and he hung his head. A short while later, Camacho held his hands to his face and appeared to be wiping his eyes.

Camacho's wife, Stacey, arrived as the verdict was being read. A short time later, she began shaking uncontrollably and crying. One of the only sounds in the courtroom was the nervous tapping of her foot as Judge Joan Webber spoke.

Zeppetella's widow, Jamie, smiled softly when she heard the jury had found her husband's killer guilty of first-degree murder.

Evidence presented during the trial showed that Camacho pumped 13 bullets into Zeppetella to avoid arrest.

The defense contended the heroin addict was in the throes of a drug-fueled delirium. Six hours after the gunbattle, Camacho had a mix of heroin, methamphetamine and the prescription anti-depressant Paxil in his system.

The jury began tackling the case Thursday afternoon after sitting through three weeks of testimony and a day and a half of closing remarks by attorneys. The five men and seven women took Friday and the weekend off before resuming their deliberations at about 9 a.m. Monday.

While Camacho's attorney William Stone had sought a finding of second-degree murder or manslaughter and never argued his client wasn't responsible for the killing, prosecutor David Ruben contended the only rational verdict the jury could reach was first-degree murder.

Zeppetella had pulled Camacho over for a traffic violation early in the afternoon of Friday, June 13. Camacho pulled into the parking lot of Navy Federal Credit Union at Avenida de la Plata and College Boulevard and the confrontation soon ensued.

Camacho attacked Zeppetella as the officer stood next by Camacho's car window. Camacho got off about five shots before Zeppetella could return fire, according to witnesses.

During the trial at the Vista Courthouse, witnesses also testified that Camacho emptied his gun at the disabled Zeppetella as the officer tried to crawl away. He then pistol-whipped Zeppetella and stole the officer's gun, firing the final shots into Zeppetella with that weapon.

hanging should be reinstated.

He should assume room temperature as soon as possible.

I think he should receive life in front of a firing squad.