Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Stiff sentence sought for man who killed wife with barbecue fork


King County prosecutors plan to seek an exceptional sentence against a Seattle man who fatally stabbed his estranged wife to death with a barbecue fork in front of their two young children, ages 4 and 5, last year.

Juan Carlos Bonilla stabbed Debra Bonilla, 38, at least a dozen times in April 2008 at her South Seattle home. Moments after the attack, the couple's 5-year-old son ran toward their downstairs neighbor, screaming, "Come and check on mommy ... daddy stabbed mommy," according to charging papers filed in King County Superior Court.

Bonilla, 34, pleaded guilty to second-degree domestic-violence murder on July 2. Debra Bonilla had been granted a domestic violence protection order -- barring her husband from coming near her and her children -- before she was killed, according to court charging documents. Bonilla also had prior convictions in Alaska, Minnesota and Seattle related to domestic-violence incidents involving his wife.

Prosecutors said they will ask Superior Court Judge Michael J. Fox to sentence Bonilla to 25 years in prison on Aug. 20. Under the standard sentencing range, Bonilla faces between about 13 and 21 years in prison.

Dan Donohoe, spokesman for King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg, said that an exceptional sentence is being sought because of Bonilla's extensive domestic violence history and because the crime occurred before the children.

Bonilla's attorneys are seeking a 16-year prison sentence, according to plea paperwork.

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