Maintaining his innocence to the very end, a former Morgan Hill
resident was sentenced to 40 years in state prison Friday for
killing his wife in March of 2002 after she said she was leaving
him.
Maintaining his innocence to the very end, a former Morgan Hill resident was sentenced to 40 years in state prison Friday for killing his wife in March of 2002 after she said she was leaving him.
Judge Rene Navarro handed down the maximum sentence for Daren Campodonica’s two charges – 15 years for second-degree murder and 25 years for using a firearm – with credit for the 1,190 days already served. Campodonica, 38, was living with his wife Tarina in Morgan Hill when the murder occurred. The couple was arguing about an extra-marital affair he was involved in while in the garage of their Morgan Hill home three years ago. During the argument, Tarina was shot in the head and died soon after. Campodonica told police it was an accident.
Police, the coroner and district attorney’s office, however, believed Campodonica had killed his wife and charged him with second-degree murder based on the angle of the bullet’s entry. He was convicted by a jury on April 27.
Before the judge handed down his sentence yesterday, the two faces of Daren Campodonica clashed in court as friends described a good, honest and remorseful man and his enemies told the court he should rot in prison.
Scott Miller, a county jail chaplain, said his appearance in court on Campodonica’s behalf was unusual.
“This is the first time I’ve ever come to court to speak for someone,” Miller said. “I met Daren about 3 years ago; I’ve watched him suffer and cry over the loss of his wife and possibly his freedom. He has maintained his innocence to me from day one and most inmates don’t do that. I don’t think he is guilty – he is a good man.”
Miller said that, while he values the court system, he thinks it failed in this case.
Lucille Roble, who owns the house on Venetian Way where the Campodonicas lived when the murder occurred, said she had come to love him.
“He is an honest man, not perfect but I do believe the jury’s decision was wrong,” Roble said. “I believe he is an innocent man.”
The Campodonica family pastor, Ronald Perrin, said he had spoken with a juror who was worried about his decision to convict Campodonica Thursday night.
“This man was uncomfortable with his decision,” Perrin said.
Navarro interrupted Perrin’s statement, saying the jury had already reached a verdict and it could not be reversed.
Campodonica, speaking for himself, told the judge he had been wrongly convicted of a crime he didn’t commit.
“I lost my first love, my real love, my wife Tarina,” Campodonica said. “I didn’t kill her. It’s ridiculous to think I assassinated my wife. This is a tragedy of justice.”
Pamela Rich and Tabitha Endres, Tarina Campodonica’s sisters, gave contradictory statements when speaking about the loss of their loved one.
“I’m at peace with this,” Rich said while asking Campodonica to look at her. “I forgive you.”
Endres, however, berated Campodonica for his sister’s murder.
“You destroyed all our lives by this selfish act,” she said. “Our parents want you to rot in prison. How can you kill someone you love?”
After family and friends had spoken, Navarro offered his own opinion of Campodonica.
“One thing is strikingly clear – the tragedy could have been avoided,” he said. “Tarina did not deserve to die that day. You are a bully, a coward and a man who likes to control women. The time has come for you to become accountable for years of control.
“I have heard the good wishes for you, people who said you couldn’t possibly have done that. You and I know different.
“You are a totally amoral man without ethics. You are a mean spirited, self-interested man, morally and ethically bankrupt. Your comments to me (this morning) were shallow, saying it was everybody else’s fault.”
After the hearing ended, Campodonica’s 18-year-old daughter, Nicole, spent about five minutes with her father before he was taken away. She was at the home with a friend when the murder occurred, but did not witness the crime. She is now newly married and expecting a child.
Campodonica’s mother Barbara Nightingale, grandmother Frances Brooks, an uncle and several friends were also present during the sentencing.
Nightingale said she wasn’t pleased with the sentence but expected the worst.
“When you don’t get to put on a defense, what do you expect,” Nightingale said.
She said earlier that her son would probably appeal if it was financially possible. Navarro told Campodonica a court-appointed attorney would be assigned if wanted to appeal, but could not afford to hire his own attorney.
The murder occurred in 2002 after a day-long argument that developed when Tarina Campodonica discovered dozens of calls on her husband’s cell phone bill to a girlfriend he had promised to leave. She packed up her things and told him she was leaving and that she wanted a divorce. Daren Campodonica tried to stop her, according to his daughter’s and other witnesses’ testimony.
The couple ended up in the garage where a .22 caliber handgun was stored. Shortly after entering the garage, Tarina Campodonica died from a gunshot wound just behind her right ear.
A history of domestic violence reported by friends of the couple was accepted by the jury as a viable reason for murder.
Deputy District Attorney Ed Fernandez, who prosecuted the case, said before the sentencing that the motive for murder was control.
“In most cases where one intimate partner kills another, it is a control issue,” Fernandez said.
Carol Holzgrafe covers City Hall for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at ch********@*************es.com or phoning (408) 779-4106 Ext. 201.
