Accused child killer Gonzalo Curiel found guilty on all counts

Accused child killer, Gonzalo Curiel has been found guilty of all charges.

The Salinas man and his then-girlfriend Tami Huntsman were accused of abusing and torturing three children under Huntsman’s care, killing two of them.

The jury took less than two hours to bring back guilty verdicts, two murder charges, one child abuse and three torture charges.

The prosecution called its last witnesses last Thursday, the forensic pathologist who performed autopsies on Shaun and Delylah Tara and the surviving victim.

“She always said she owed it to her brother and sister to come and say what happened, she in some ways was eager to come and do this,” Monterey County Deputy District Attorney Steven Somers said, “I mean it was obviously difficult for her but she’s a brave little girl who did a great thing.”

The defense didn’t call any witnesses to the stand.

Closing statements lasted more than an hour, Somers said 20-year-old Gonzalo Curiel is responsible for the deaths of 7-year-old Shaun and 3-year-old Delylah Tara and the abuse and torture of their older sister.

Prosecutor, Steve Somers said,”Were their acts by the defendant and Tami Huntsman led to the deaths of the children? Without a doubt. There’s no question on that.”

Somers said that there was a basic theme in the evidence – life was good for the three children before Huntsman and her husband split up and before Huntsman’s eldest son was arrested and taken to juvenile hall. He also said Curiel enjoyed the abuse and torture.

“He admitted to the deputy, ‘oh yeah I punched her in that hurt arm just once or twice. That is a level of sadism and torture that’s incomprehensible,” said Somers.

In February, Huntsman pleaded guilty for her roles in the murders. She will be sentenced to two consecutive life sentences with no possibility of parole.

Curiel will be back in court on April 30 to set a date for sentencing.