Delon Not Guilty of One Charge

Kimberly Delon is not guilty of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of her husband, the judge in her trial ruled Monday.

Superior Court Judge John Thompson ruled that there is not enough evidence to convict Delon of the most severe murder charge in the Aug. 31, 1991, killing of her husband, whom Delon admits burying in her vegetable garden.

However, the jury will still have the option of convicting Delon of second-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter.

The maximum sentence Delon now faces if convicted is 15 years to life. The mandatory sentence for first-degree murder is 25 years to life in state prison.

“I don’t know what happened that night . . . but I frankly don’t see the premeditation and deliberation necessary for Murder One,” the judge said.

But, Thompson said “there is some evidence to indicate that it’s not a self-defense case.”

Delon maintains that she stabbed her husband five times while he was strangling her. She said he threatened to kill and then bury her in the garden.