LAKEPORT — After just two hours of deliberation, the jury in the trial of a man accused of a 2002 homicide found him guilty of first-degree murder, with a special allegation of torture.
On Wednesday afternoon, the prosecution and defense gave their closing arguments in the trial of Paul James Smiraglia, 46, of Reno, Nev., accused of the murder four years ago of his ex-girlfriend, 43-year-old Diedre Coleman. The jury retired to the jury room to begin deliberations that same day.
At 10:30 a.m. Thursday, the court reconvened after receiving word the jury had reached its verdict.
Coleman”s mother, Revae Leppanen, and numerous family members were in the courtroom gallery, along with District Attorney Gary Luck. Sitting next to Leppanen was District Attorney”s Office Investigator Jim Crane, who had his arm protectively around her shoulders.
The jury found Smiraglia guilty of first-degree murder with the special allegation of torture.
When the verdict was read there was little reaction from Smiraglia, but Leppanen closed her eyes and nodded with relief.
Smiraglia was accused of killing Coleman, in the Alvida Street home of Sharmon Hawley in Clearlake in July of 2002. Prosecutor Richard Hinchcliff alleged that during an argument with Coleman, Smiraglia held her down and injected muriatic (or hydrochloric) acid into her ear in an attempt to kill her.
A forensic pathologist testified during the trial that muriatic acid used in that way could have caused intense physical pain, but would not necessarily have resulted in death.
When Smiraglia saw that the injection didn”t kill Coleman, he took a hammer and struck her in the head several times until she died. He then wrapped her body in garbage bags and a blue tarp which he tied up with rope, and placed her body inside a plastic toy box.
A few days later, according to Hawley”s testimony, he forced Hawley to drive with him out to a remote location along Cache Creek and Highway 20, where he dumped Coleman”s body.
Judge Arthur Mann scheduled Smiraglia”s sentencing for 8:15 a.m. Aug. 7 in his Department 3 courtroom.
Following sentencing, said Hinchcliff, Smiraglia will be taken to San Quentin State Prison, where he will be evaluated, classified and processed in order for prison officials to decide in which prison he will serve his term.
Bringing Smiraglia to justice has been team effort, with veterans officers from agencies across the county helping put the pieces together to get a conviction.
Outside the courtroom, Hinchcliff praised Clearlake Police detectives Carl Stein and Jim Bell neither of whom attended court Thursday for their diligence and meticulous approach, which helped bring the case to a conclusion. All told, they interviewed 130 witnesses some more than once and compiled several hundred pages of evidence that provided the case”s linchpins.
Stein became the case”s lead detective in April 2003. Three months later, Hawley led Stein and Bell to the location of Coleman”s body.
Hinchcliff said of Stein who has nearly 50 years of law enforcement experience “If he wasn”t so tenacious, we wouldn”t be here.”
Stein”s investigation continued until late in May, just weeks before Smiraglia”s trial began June 6. That”s when Hawley finally came forward and admitted that she had been in the room next to Coleman and Smiraglia the July 2002 night their arguing turned deadly. Not only did Hawley say she heard Coleman”s cries for help, but saw Smiraglia running around looking for a syringe and then calling for a hammer.
“We knew Shar Hawley was there all along when it happened,” Hinchcliff said. “I expected all along, as we got closer to trial, she”d come forward, and she did.”
He added, “It took her a lot longer than we wished it would have taken.”
In addition to Stein and Bell there was Crane, who Hinchcliff said assisted in the sometimes difficult task of tracking down victims who were scattered around California and Nevada and coordinating with the Victim Witness Office, which has offered support and assistance for Coleman”s family and Hawley.
Thursday”s verdict gave Hinchcliff his third conviction in three homicide murder trials. His fourth is scheduled to begin Aug. 1, when he will prosecute 25-year-old Edward Munoz, who is accused of another 2002 murder that of 26-year-old Clearlake resident Leah Leister.
For Coleman”s family, the verdict brought a resolution of sorts to a four-year path of pain and loss.
“It”s been hell for four years,” Leppanen said outside the courtroom.
Leppanen, who has been a graceful, dignified presence throughout the proceedings, launched the investigation into her daughter”s disappearance in late 2002. She placed newspaper ads and put up fliers seeking information, and when she received a call from a friend of her daughter”s, she quickly relayed that to the Lake County Sheriff”s Office, who shortly turned it over to Clearlake Police.
For Leppanen who defense attorney Doug Rhoades on Wednesday said was the crime”s second victim there is a final step to the process, for which she said she has already prepared. At Smiraglia”s sentencing, she will give a victim impact statement, and have the chance to address her daughter”s killer face to face.
No verdict can bring back a lost child, but the verdict Thursday appeared to gave Leppanen some peace.
Wiping away tears, she managed a smile. “I”m fine. I”m fine now.”
Contact Elizabeth Larson at elarson@record-bee.com.
