Jose Zavala killed his ex-girlfriend, shooting her to death in her Loughborough-area apartment -- but was he insane when he pulled the trigger?
That question will face jurors this week, as the sanity phase of Zavala's murder trial opened Monday.
Last week, jurors found Zavala, 31, guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Jennifer Hernandez, the defendant's onetime girlfriend. Zavala entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, and jurors must now decide whether he was sane when he murdered Hernandez.
Zavala's attorneys have argued that his long-time methamphetamine abuse and its effects played a major role in his actions and substantially impaired his judgment.
On the other hand, prosecutors contend two court-appointed doctors who examined Zavala said he was sane when he killed Hernandez on Dec. 3, 2007.
On Monday, jurors heard from Richard Black, a Fresno-based clinical forensic psychologist, who testified that Zavala suffered from mental disorders and was insane at the time of the murder. Black said Zavala suffered from a schizo-affective disorder, characterized by mood swings and a need to be isolated from others.
Black learned that Zavala had developed a $50 a day meth habit while serving in the Mexican army, saying that the drug increases aggressiveness and the risk of committing assault. Black also testified that he believed Zavala was under the influence of methamphetamine when he killed Hernandez.
In addition to first-degree murder, jurors also found Zavala guilty on two felony counts of illegally possessing a firearm, along with an enhancement for causing great bodily injury with a firearm.
He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsun-star.com
E-Mail
Print
