MIA ZAPATA's Killer Gets 36 Years
May 5, 2004Christine Clarridge of the Seattle Times reports that the man convicted in March of killing THE GITS singer Mia Zapata more than 10 years ago was sentenced Friday (April 30) to more than 36 years in prison by King County Superior Court Judge Sharon Armstrong.
The sentence was 10 years longer than the standard maximum for felony murder.
After playing a film paying homage to Zapata, King County Deputy Prosecutor Tim Bradshaw argued that Jesus Mezquia deserved a longer sentence than the standard.
He said Zapata's death was painful, cruel and violent.
"The state thinks that Mia was an exceptional person and the crime was exceptional," Bradshaw said.
Then, in an unusual move, he called for a show of hands from those in the packed courtroom who supported the longer sentence.
Most of the spectators raised their hands.
In meting out the punishment, Armstrong said she found a legal basis for the longer sentence in the physical evidence presented at trial. Zapata suffered numerous rips, tears and internal injuries that went beyond those found in a typical rape and murder, Armstrong said. [Read more]
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