Verginia Turner Found Guilty of Murdering Local Attorney - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News

Verginia Turner Found Guilty of Murdering Local Attorney

Updated: A previous version of this article stated that Hafen was murdered in 2012. This is incorrect, he was found dead in 2010. We apologize for this error.

SALINAS, Calif. -- The Monterey County District Attorney's Office said the jury found 44-year old Verginia Turner guilty of premeditated and deliberate murder. It was a two week long trial.

Turner was found guilty of bludgeoning her boyfriend to death. Mark Hafen was a local family attorney. The murder happened on August 27th 2010 in Salinas.

Officers found Hafen on September 1st in his home after his secretary told police he had missed several client appointments and court appearances.

Turner testified during the trial that she was abused physically, sexually and emotionally by the victim. Three of Turner's previous boyfriends testified that she made false allegations about them at the end of their relationships. They also said she was prone to violent outbursts due to jealousy. Two of Turner's Ex's said they had to get restraining orders against her.

Before Hafen was killed, he got a restraining order against Turner in 2009, and had to get her removed from his home in July 2010. The DA's Office said in August 2010, Turner thought the victim got a new girlfriend.

When Turner was interviewed at the Salinas Police Department, she accused the alleged new girlfriend's estranged husband of the crime. She said she last saw the victim sleeping on the floor.

During the trial, Turner testified that she hit the victim in self-defense with a metal bar. She told the jury the victim kept the bar in his bedroom for protection. Turner also told the courtroom that she put a garbage bag under his head to protect the carpet but didn't know that he was dead.

The DA's office said Dr. John Hain testified in the courtroom and said the victim had a broken jaw and fractured skull. Bruce Wiley, a blood spatter expert said the victim was bludgeoned while lying in bed, away from Turner.

On February 1st, the DA's Office will ask Judge Pamela Butler to sentence turner for 25 years to life in prison.