MARTINEZ — For the second time, a Pittsburg man has been convicted of murdering his wife.
Kevin Easter, 59, was convicted earlier this month of murder in the shooting death of his wife, 52-year-old Janice Easter. Authorities say Kevin Easter shot his wife five times as she was attempting to kick him out of their home on Army Street late in the night of Aug. 7, 2013. After the murder, Easter feigned shock and had a relative take him to the police department to inquire how she died, and ditched the gun on his way over, authorities say.
Easter was convicted of murder in 2015, but an appeals court reversed it four years later. Appellate court justices ruled that a judge was wrong to ignore signs that Easter’s mental health had deteriorated to the point that he couldn’t assist his attorney shortly before the start of his trial. Easter had been diagnosed with schizophrenia but had been previously found competent to stand trial.
Easter’s sentencing has been set for Jan. 20, before Judge David Goldstein. Last time around, he was given a prison term of 65 years to life.
Source: www.mercurynews.com