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| Erin Corwin/Facebook |
The courtroom at San Bernardino County Superior Court was packed when the verdict was read at approximately 1:45 p.m. PDT.
Leah Sanson, reporter for the Hi Desert Star, described the scene:
"The courtroom was completely quiet as the foreman read the verdict. Lee sat silently in the defendant’s chair as behind him, in the audience, his mother began to cry.
"His wife, Nichole Lee, was not in the room."
Prosecutor Sean Daugherty told Desert Sun reporter Colin Atagi that Lee will be sentenced Nov. 29.
The judge must automatically sentence Lee to life in prison WITHOUT the possibility of parole. According to FindLaw.com:
"State laws require a sentence of life imprisonment without parole or death for homicides involving special circumstances set by the California Penal Code."
The San Bernardino District Attorney's office put out a press release that reads, in part:
"This was a terrible crime that showed absolutely no regard for the value of human life," District Attorney Mike Ramos said. "Erin Corwin was just a young girl with her entire life ahead of her. And now, all that's left is her memory. While justice was served today, it can only be a small consolation to her family and friends who will have to suffer a lifetime of pain knowing she died such a senseless death.""The murder of Erin Corwin was solved by solid investigative work and devoted volunteers committing thousands of hours during the eight-week search," said Sheriff John McMahon. "We can't erase the pain felt by Erin's loved ones, but we will do everything in our power to imprison the criminal responsible for her murder."
The death penalty was removed as an option before the trial began, according to Christopher Lee (yes, same name), the public affairs officer for the San Bernardino District Attorney's office
