The Associated Press
Posted: 06/11/2010 07:25:48 AM PDT
Updated: 06/11/2010 07:25:49 AM PDT
SAN JOSE, Calif.—A San Jose man has been convicted of fatally stabbing his pregnant girlfriend and their two young daughters in 2005.
A jury on Thursday found Rodrigo Paniagua Jr. guilty of four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 26-year-old Leticia Chavez, her 5-month-old fetus and their daughters, 3-year-old AnaLisa and 6-year-old Adrina.
Authorities say Paniagua had a history of abuse and attacked his family in October 2005 because he thought Chavez was preparing to leave him.
Paniagua was also convicted of one count of arson. Authorities say he set fire to the family's home to conceal the killings.
The first-degree murder convictions make Paniagua eligible for the death penalty.
His lawyer had called for a second-degree murder conviction, saying Paniagua was a drug addict and was abused himself.
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