A judge Friday denied a motion to question jurors who convicted a man of murder in the throat-slashing death of a transvestite in Mission Viejo, finding no credibility to defense claims of misconduct during the trial.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Sheila Hanson’s ruling clears the way for sentencing of Adam Anthony Ingala-Whiting on June 15. He faces 16 years to life in state prison.
The defendant’s sister, Danielle Goren, who is registered to practice law in Louisiana, claimed that she overheard two jurors talking among themselves before the rest of the panel resumed deliberations. She said she overheard one say to the other, “The law is the law, there is no excuses. The others need to follow the law.”
Hanson said even if the claim was true, it wouldn’t warrant further questioning of the jurors. The judge repeatedly said she found the juror misconduct allegations “incredible.”
Ingala-Whiting, 25, was convicted March 21 of second- degree murder for killing 46-year-old Francesco “Joey” Bonomolo.
The defendant met Bonomolo through Craigslist and killed him on April 29, 2014, in his unit at the Vista Real Apartments at 27260 Los Altos, which is across from the Shops at Mission Viejo mall, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Troy Pino.
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