OXNARD : Man’s Trial Begins in Mother’s Day Killing

A prosecutor contended Thursday that an Oxnard man intentionally shot and killed his ex-girlfriend at her home on Mother’s Day and should be convicted of first-degree murder.

But during an opening statement in Gary Michael Rose’s murder trial,Rose’s defense attorney called the shooting “an act of desperate passion” and urged the jury to convict his client of no more than voluntary manslaughter.

If convicted of first-degree murder, the 25-year-old Rose would receive a mandatory prison sentence of 25 years to life. If convicted of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, he could receive as few as three years in prison.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Donald C. Glynn and Deputy Public Defender Douglas W. Daily agreed that Rose became enraged with Victoria Ramey, 31, during an argument that took place in Ramey’s La Canada Avenue home shortly before the shooting.

Both attorneys told the jury that Rose went to an upstairs bedroom in the two-story home and assembled a .45-caliber handgun after the argument.

Glynn said that Rose intended to kill her from the time he retrieved the gun. He said Rose pushed Ramey down some stairs and then shot her three times--twice in the head and once in the shoulder.

Daily, however, said Ramey had a 0.12% blood alcohol level--which is 1 1/2 times the legal limit for driving. He said Ramey was shot after provoking his client.