BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A 33-year-old Mexican national was acquitted Monday of murder charges in the beating and strangulation death of his girlfriend.
But Antioco Patino was not released from jail because he has an immigration hold.
He was accused of murdering 24-year-old Jenny Gomez whose body was found Aug. 28 near Delonegha Hot Springs in the Kern River. He reported her missing.
Her hands were bound with white cloth and she had suffered skull, rib and pelvis fractures, the evidence showed.
The prosecution argued that Patino accused her the night before of sleeping with another man, and he had a history of physically abusing her out of jealousy.
Deputy Public Defender Tony Lidgett argued there were no witnesses or physical evidence linking Patino to the killing.
When asked how the verdict was reached, prosecutor David Wilson said, “I have no idea.”
Jurors did not talk to the attorneys after the trial. Lidgett could not be reached for comment.
Article by The Bakersfield Californian, https://www.bakersfield.com/news/man-acquitted-in-murder-of-girlfriend/article_7deeabb8-45eb-54b7-ab8a-b466810fb041.html
