Richard Delgado was 19-years old when he ran over Donna Fife with his vehicle, killing her. He is charged with first degree murder and faces a lifetime in state prison if convicted. Delgado had previous encounters with the Fife family related to his widely known reckless driving habits. He ran into Mrs. Fife late one evening in San Jose in front of neighborhood witnesses. It's reported that Delgado was intoxicated at the time.
According to the Mercury News Delgado's juvenile probation officer testified that she had on several occassions warned the teen that his reckless driving would end up killing someone one day. It is not known what Delgado was on probation for. Another witness told the jury that that Delgado threatened Fife earlier by saying he was coming after her. He backed his vehicle over Fife as she attempted to write down his license plate number.
To prove first degree murder the prosecution must show that the act was deliberate and done with malice-aforethought. Little to no planning is required under California criminal law. So long as he intended to kill and he did so with malice is sufficient.
The jury is currently in deliberation. They could come down on second degree murder, which carries a term of 15-years to life.
Besides the murder charge Delgado is facing more criminal charges including rape and assault with a deadly weapon. Delgado is accused of raping a teenage girl who was intoxicated and unconscious. He is further accused of assaulting correctional officers while in custody pending his murder trial.
Source: Mercury News
