Jury Rejects Death for Killer of Armored Car Guard

Disregarding a prosecutor’s plea for the death penalty, a jury Thursday decided that a parolee who murdered an armored car guard during a hardware store robbery should spend the rest of his life in prison.

After three days of deliberations, a Superior Court jury ruled that Sean Darnell Slade does not deserve to die for the fatal shooting of guard Edwin (Eddie) Maldonado during a July 29, 1992, robbery at a Home Depot store in San Fernando.

Slade, 27, showed no emotion as the jury’s decision was announced.

The victim’s mother, Camelina Rodriguez of Pasadena, said through a spokesman that she was disappointed by the verdict, “but at least it’s over.”

Deputy Dist. Atty. Jeff Jonas said he was “very satisfied that in the year 2054 . . . Mr. Slade will still be in custody, cooling his heels, eating state prison food.”

Most jurors declined to comment. “It’s been too emotional,” one said as she hurried to an elevator in the Van Nuys Courthouse.

Another juror said deliberations focused on “lingering doubts” about Slade’s role in the crime. Other than an eyewitness identification, there was no hard evidence in the case, the juror said, and this “didn’t lead to the certainty needed to put him death.”

“Life without parole is a fairly appropriate sentence,” the juror said.

Defense attorney Bruce Hill suggested during closing arguments that evidence was insufficient to warrant the death penalty, asking the question, “Are you that sure?”

Two jurors initially favored the death penalty, according to the juror who discussed the deliberations. They were swayed by other jurors who argued that Slade, even if sentenced to death, would probably never be executed because of delays caused by appeals.

During the trial, Slade testified that he had nothing to do with Maldonado’s death. He did admit killing another man in 1987, which led to a manslaughter conviction.

Slade was paroled only 25 days before Maldonado was shot without warning.

Judge Ronald S. Coen will formally sentence Slade to life in prison without the possibility of parole during a hearing April 29.