A Ceres woman was sentenced to 40 years in life in prison for the 2006 murder of her husband.
Rosa Rapalo Brizendine, 50, was found guilty of second-degree murder and discharging a firearm after a three-week jury trial in Stanislaus County Superior Court. The district attorney's office said Rosa Brizendine killed her husband, Alvin Brizendine, during a domestic dispute.
On Sept. 11, 2006, the couple had an argument about whether Alvin Brizendine was having an affair with another woman. During the fight, Rosa Brizendine got a handgun from their bedroom and shot at her husband, striking him once in the head. A bleeding and wounded Alvin Brizendine ran from his home to his son's mobile home, which was also on the Ceres ranch, but his son was not home.
Rosa Brizendine followed her husband out of the house and shot him again, as he held out his hand to stop her. Investigators testified the fatal bullet hit Alvin Brizendine's hand before striking him in the chest.
At the sentencing hearing, Alvin Brizendine's friends and family spoke about his loss and how they have suffered because of Rosa Brizendine's actions.
The defendant declined to make a statement when given the opportunity by Judge Hurl Johnson. Her attorney, Robert Westbrook, told the court that she was remorseful and has always been reluctant to talk about the homicide.
Rosa Rapalo Brizendine, 50, was found guilty of second-degree murder and discharging a firearm after a three-week jury trial in Stanislaus County Superior Court. The district attorney's office said Rosa Brizendine killed her husband, Alvin Brizendine, during a domestic dispute.
On Sept. 11, 2006, the couple had an argument about whether Alvin Brizendine was having an affair with another woman. During the fight, Rosa Brizendine got a handgun from their bedroom and shot at her husband, striking him once in the head. A bleeding and wounded Alvin Brizendine ran from his home to his son's mobile home, which was also on the Ceres ranch, but his son was not home.
Rosa Brizendine followed her husband out of the house and shot him again, as he held out his hand to stop her. Investigators testified the fatal bullet hit Alvin Brizendine's hand before striking him in the chest.
At the sentencing hearing, Alvin Brizendine's friends and family spoke about his loss and how they have suffered because of Rosa Brizendine's actions.
The defendant declined to make a statement when given the opportunity by Judge Hurl Johnson. Her attorney, Robert Westbrook, told the court that she was remorseful and has always been reluctant to talk about the homicide.
