On May 23, Eddie Rapoza will be formally sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the first-degree murder of his pregnant wife and the second-degree murders of her fetus and the couple's 4-year-old daughter.
With Rapoza, 38, convicted of murder plus the special allegation of multiple murders, Judge Carl Holm has close to no discretion in sentencing. The only possible option is if Holm believes there was judicial error during Rapoza's month-long trial. Defense attorney Jeff Boyarsky is also expected to appeal the conviction.
A jury convicted the Foster City man April 11, just days after beginning to deliberate. Following the verdict, many jurors said finding Rapoza guilty in his 34-year-old wife's death was easy compared to weighing his responsibility in the deaths of his two daughters.
On Oct. 6, 2002, the Chrysler minivan driven by Rapoza plunged off the end of Bernal Avenue, 150 feet to the Pacific Ocean below. Raye Rapoza and her fetus died at the scene. Tehani Rapoza succumbed days later. Rapoza suffered severe injuries but was the sole survivor of the crash.
Rapoza's defense claimed it was a tragic accident, spurred by impulsiveness and anger but not a premeditated desire to kill his entire family. Prosecutor Al Giannini countered Rapoza had been contemplating his own suicide for years and knew the consequences of his actions by accelerating toward the Moss Beach cliff.
Rapoza remains in custody on no-bail status. Once formally sentenced, Rapoza will go to San Quentin State Prison for classification before being assigned to a permanent location.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
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PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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