September 6, 2012
Updated Sep 6, 2012 at 6:21 PM PDT
A Tulare County jury took just 20 minutes to decide that a valley man was in fact sane when he gunned down and killed a sheriff's deputy back in 2007.
The attorneys for Jorge Banda, who just last week was found guilty of the shooting death of Kent Haws, said Banda was of unfit mind when the crime occurred.
Despite Thursday's ruling, the court decided Banda could not be put to death because his IQ is below 70 and that would constitute "cruel and unusual punishment."
Banda will likely spend the rest of his life in prison.
Deputy Haws was shot while responding to a call about suspicious activity near Ivanhoe. Banda was arrested near the scene and confessed to the killing.
Banda will be officially sentenced on October 18th.
TXT 24
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