Week in Review : MAJOR EVENTS, IMAGES AND PEOPLE IN ORANGE COUNTY NEWS. : COURTS : Professor Sentenced to 17 Years in Slaying
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Cal State Fullerton philosophy professor Richard L. Smith was sentenced last week to at least 17 years in prison for murdering the estranged husband of his girlfriend.
Smith was convicted by jury trial of murdering Donald L. Matters on May 3, 1984. The jurors rejected Smith’s claim that he was insane at the time of the shooting.
Orange County Superior Judge John J. Ryan sentenced Smith to serve at least 17 years and possibly life in prison. Ryan said he considers Smith “a danger to others” and would not have reduced Smith’s penalty for second-degree murder even if California law permitted it.
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