By Associated Press
12:18 PM MST, December 20, 2009
CORTEZ, Colo. (AP) — A Cortez man has been convicted of second-degree murder in the beating death of his girlfriend.
Ignacio "Michael" Ray Rael had faced a first-degree murder charge in the October 2008 death of Diane Cordova. A jury convicted him Friday of the lesser charge, which carries a maximum 48 year prison sentence.
Prosecutors say Rael donned leather gloves with weights in them and beat his girlfriend to death. Medical experts testified during the three-week trial that Cordova suffered at least 15 blows to her face and multiple blows to the head.
Defense attorneys say witnesses, many with felony records, offered confusing testimony.
Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 12.
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