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Andrew Thomas Gallo (KTLA) |
SANTA ANA -- An Orange County jury has convicted a man in the deaths of rookie Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two others.
The jury found 23-year-old Andrew Gallo guilty of all charges Monday, including second-degree murder, felony hit and run and felony drunk driving.
Gallo, a convicted drunk driver, was charged with three counts of second-degree murder, felony drunk driving, and felony hit and run in the deaths of the 22-year-old Adenhart, 20-year-old Courtney Stewart and 25-year-old Henry Pearson.
Gallo, who held white rosary beads, showed no emotion in court Monday when the verdict was read.
His parents asked for forgiveness for their son. "I wanted to reach out and say something," said Gallo's father, Thomas Gallo. "I just hope they find it in their hearts to forgive Andrew, and to forgive our family. I'm sorry for what happened."
"He's our son. You have to do what you have to do to defend him," said Gallo's stepmother, Lilia Gallo. "We want the families to know that we are deeply mourning the loss of their children and all the pain they went through."
Nick Adenhart's parents were not present for the verdict.
John Wilhite, 25, who was critically injured in the crash, broke down in tears after the verdict was read.
"There are no winners in this situation," said Nigel Pearson, the father Henry Pearson, one of the victims, "but our families are very satisfied with the verdicts."
"It's pretty painful. We're sort of reliving the whole thing," said Areta Pearson, Henry's mother. "It's very difficult ...It's not going to bring him back. Maybe some people learn something from this."
Courtney Stewart's mother said they were relieved by the verdict and knew Courtney would be happy that justice had been served.
Gallo could face more than 50 years to life in prison. Sentencing is set for December 10.
"I think it's tragic," Gallo's attorney Jacqueline Goodman told reporters outside the courtroom. "I think there's been a miscarriage of justice."
Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas praised the verdict, even though he noted it would not bring back the victims.
"While we can't do justice, we can do the best we can," he said.
It was the 11th DUI-related murder conviction in the county since 2008.
"People are dying here ... These are murder cases," Rackauckas said.
Prosecutors told jurors during the trial Gallo didn't care about anyone but himself when he decided to drink that day.
He "made the decision to get intoxicated beyond the point of any reason," Deputy District Attorney Susan Price said during her closing argument.
The jury found 23-year-old Andrew Gallo guilty of all charges Monday, including second-degree murder, felony hit and run and felony drunk driving.
Gallo, a convicted drunk driver, was charged with three counts of second-degree murder, felony drunk driving, and felony hit and run in the deaths of the 22-year-old Adenhart, 20-year-old Courtney Stewart and 25-year-old Henry Pearson.
Gallo, who held white rosary beads, showed no emotion in court Monday when the verdict was read.
His parents asked for forgiveness for their son. "I wanted to reach out and say something," said Gallo's father, Thomas Gallo. "I just hope they find it in their hearts to forgive Andrew, and to forgive our family. I'm sorry for what happened."
"He's our son. You have to do what you have to do to defend him," said Gallo's stepmother, Lilia Gallo. "We want the families to know that we are deeply mourning the loss of their children and all the pain they went through."
Nick Adenhart's parents were not present for the verdict.
John Wilhite, 25, who was critically injured in the crash, broke down in tears after the verdict was read.
"There are no winners in this situation," said Nigel Pearson, the father Henry Pearson, one of the victims, "but our families are very satisfied with the verdicts."
"It's pretty painful. We're sort of reliving the whole thing," said Areta Pearson, Henry's mother. "It's very difficult ...It's not going to bring him back. Maybe some people learn something from this."
Courtney Stewart's mother said they were relieved by the verdict and knew Courtney would be happy that justice had been served.
Gallo could face more than 50 years to life in prison. Sentencing is set for December 10.
"I think it's tragic," Gallo's attorney Jacqueline Goodman told reporters outside the courtroom. "I think there's been a miscarriage of justice."
Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas praised the verdict, even though he noted it would not bring back the victims.
"While we can't do justice, we can do the best we can," he said.
It was the 11th DUI-related murder conviction in the county since 2008.
"People are dying here ... These are murder cases," Rackauckas said.
Prosecutors told jurors during the trial Gallo didn't care about anyone but himself when he decided to drink that day.
He "made the decision to get intoxicated beyond the point of any reason," Deputy District Attorney Susan Price said during her closing argument.
