Calif. prosecutors: Man strangled elderly mother, then went to store to buy tobacco
By APMonday, May 3, 2010
Prosecutors: Man strangled mother, went to store
SANTA ANA, Calif. — Prosecutors say a 52-year-old man strangled his mother, wrapped her body in a sheet and then used her credit card to buy chewing tobacco before returning to their Southern California condominium and calling 911.
Orange County Deputy District Attorney Ebrahim Baytieh told jurors Monday that Ethan Rosenfeld murdered his 82-year-old mother, Helen Rosenfeld, in May 2005.
Rosenfeld’s public defender has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
If jurors find Rosenfeld guilty, they will have to consider in the second phase of the trial whether mental illness prevented him from understanding the consequences of his actions.
Prosecutors say Rosenfeld lied to the 911 operator and did not want to try to revive her.
