Otay Mesa

After deliberating just 45 minutes, a jury found an Otay Mesa man guilty Thursday of first-degree murder with special circumstances.

The penalty phase to determine the sentence of Richard Samoyoa, 35, will begin May 2. Jurors will only have two choices to recommend: life in prison without possibility of parole or death.

The case involves two grisly murders Dec. 18, 1985. Nelia Silva, 33, and her 2-year-old daughter, Katherine, were beaten to death in their home.

Samoyoa, who lived across the street, confessed to the murders. Jewelry taken from the Silva home was given by the defendant to his mother and sisters.

The victims were hit with a wrench, and Nelia Silva was struck in the face 35 times.

Samoyoa’s attorney, Michael Popkins, conceded that the murders were first-degree because they happened during a burglary, but he asked in closing arguments Wednesday that the jury not find that there were special circumstances.

Popkins said the slayings were not premeditated and occurred because Samoyoa had a “rage reaction” to Nelia Silva discovering him in her home. He said Samoyoa panicked.

The defendant did not testify in his trial, which began April 6.

Rolando Silva, the victims’ husband and father, put up $5,000 of his savings as a reward in February, 1986, for information leading to the conviction of the killer. However, the tipster declined the reward.