Caro Defense Rests in Death Penalty Hearing

Defense attorneys attempting to save Socorro Caro from death by injection rested their case Wednesday, capping weeks of testimony with praise for the convicted child-killer from her aunt, one of her sons’ teachers and a jail chaplain.

They were the last in a string of defense witnesses to describe the 44-year-old Santa Rosa Valley woman as loving and compassionate.

Caro was convicted last month of first-degree murder for shooting three of her four young sons as they slept. After hearing closing arguments from both sides today, jurors will decide whether to recommend the death penalty or life in prison without parole. The final decision will rest with Superior Court Judge Donald D. Coleman.

During Caro’s nine-week trial, prosecutors argued that she committed the slayings to punish her husband, Dr. Xavier Caro. Defense attorneys contended that it was the physician who killed 11-year-old Joey, 8-year-old Michael and 5-year-old Christopher and fired a bullet into his wife’s brain.

Also on the stand Wednesday, Caro’s aunt, Denice Leon, testified that Caro never behaved violently toward her sons.