Man sentenced in wife's beating death
WACO, TX
Robert Chavira Espinosa pleaded guilty Tuesday in the May death
of his 33-year-old wife, Rosario Moreno. He was charged with
capital murder, but prosecutors agreed not to pursue the death
penalty if he pleaded guilty.
The Waco Tribune-Herald reports that during statements from two
of Moreno's relatives, Espinosa was asked repeatedly why he had
killed her. The 29-year-old replied: "I don't know why."
Usually, defendants are forbidden from speaking during victim
impact statements. The judge warned Espinosa not to speak at one
point, but didn't object later when he spoke.
Espinosa's lawyer said his client had mental health issues, but
was sane at the time of the offense.
