Man convicted of killing girlfriend

A 38-year-old man who said he strangled his longtime girlfriend as a result of an epileptic seizure was convicted Tuesday of second-degree murder.

Arthur Bonner, a former gang member who garnered national attention for his work to save endangered insects, faces at least 15 years to life in prison.

During the two-week trial, Deputy Public Defender Randall Rich contended that his client had no control over his actions when he killed Angel Dews, 32, in the couple’s Hawthorne apartment in June 2005.

Bonner had a history of seizures and had been prescribed medication for epilepsy.

“It’s terribly disappointing,” Rich said Tuesday.

“Arthur has so much to offer that it’s difficult to think of him spending so long in jail with a condition that won’t be treated.”

But Deputy Dist. Atty. Belle Chen argued that Bonner deliberately killed his girlfriend during an argument.

The prosecutor said he had a motive to kill his girlfriend, believing that she was having an affair.