By City News Service
May 14, 2021
SANTA ANA (CNS) - A marijuana cultivator was convicted today of killing his ex-girlfriend in her Huntington Beach home 4 1/2 years ago.
Jason Joseph Becher, 46, was found guilty of first-degree murder, and jurors found true a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait. Becher, who is scheduled to be sentenced June 11, is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole for pummeling and strangling 50-year-old Marylou Sarkissian on Dec. 2, 2016.
The panel, which reached a verdict after about four hours of deliberations, had the option of considering lesser charges such as second- degree murder.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Janine Madera played for the jury enraged, expletive-filled voicemails the defendant left for the victim s sister and her son accusing Sarkissian of infidelity and stealing money from him.
By City News Service
May 14, 2021
SANTA ANA (CNS) - A marijuana cultivator was convicted today of killing his ex-girlfriend in her Huntington Beach home 4 1/2 years ago.
Jason Joseph Becher, 46, was found guilty of first-degree murder, and jurors found true a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait. Becher, who is scheduled to be sentenced June 11, is facing life in prison without the possibility of parole for pummeling and strangling 50-year-old Marylou Sarkissian on Dec. 2, 2016.
The panel, which reached a verdict after about four hours of deliberations, had the option of considering lesser charges such as second- degree murder.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Janine Madera played for the jury enraged, expletive-filled voicemails the defendant left for the victim s sister and her son accusing Sarkissian of infidelity and stealing money from him.
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A jury swiftly convicted Jason Becher of first-degree murder Thursday in the 2016 death of his ex-girlfriend, Marylou Sarkissian, of Huntington Beach.
The jury also agreed with the prosecutor’s special circumstance charge against Becher of lying in wait before committing the crime. Becher, 46, of Anaheim, could be sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Becher’s sentencing is scheduled for June 11.
Sarkissian was found dead on Dec. 2, 2016 in her home on Litchfield Drive. The defense in the case did not dispute that Becher was responsible for her death, but public defender Irene Pai reiterated Thursday during her closing arguments that she believed the evidence supports a charge of second-degree murder or voluntary manslaughter instead.
Jury begins deliberations in Huntington Beach murder trial
Marylou Sarkissian, third from left, is pictured with her three children before her death in December 2016.
(Courtesy of Debra Zdrazil )
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A jury began deliberations Thursday in the trial of Jason Becher, who is charged with first-degree murder in the 2016 death of his ex-girlfriend Marylou Sarkissian in her Huntington Beach home.
Becher, 46, of Anaheim, could get life in prison without parole due to the special circumstances charge of lying in wait.
His public defender Irene Pai concluded her closing arguments Thursday at Orange County Superior Courthouse in Santa Ana, before Deputy Dist. Atty. Janet Madera addressed the jurors one final time.
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Jurors began hearing closing arguments Wednesday in the trial of a man accused of first-degree murder with special circumstances in the death of his ex-girlfriend in Huntington Beach.
Jason Becher of Anaheim, 46, could get life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted in the 2016 death of his ex-girlfriend Marylou Sarkissian. The special circumstance of lying in wait creates the enhanced penalty.
Prosecutors allege that Becher waited at Sarkissian’s house on Litchfield Drive in the early-morning hours of Dec. 2, 2016, before entering, strangling her and beating her to death.
During the trial, which began April 26, Becher’s public defender Irene Pai has not disputed that Becher caused the death of Sarkissian, who was 50. The defense has argued that it was a sudden act of rage, not a premeditated act.