Jury: dad who drowned 4-year-old son was sane (Fullerton, California)

The jury has decided that dad GIDEON OMONDI was sane when he drowned his 4-year-old son in the bathtub. Previous news accounts posted here have noted that dad had shared custody, but didn't want to pay child support. It's always about the money, isn't it....

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_13359577

OC jury says father who drowned son, 4, was sane
The Associated Press
Posted: 09/17/2009 01:57:16 PM PDT
Updated: 09/17/2009 01:57:16 PM PDT

FULLERTON, Calif.—An Orange County jury says a father was legally sane when he drowned his 4-year-old son in a bathtub.

Jurors who convicted Gideon Omondi of murder last week ruled Thursday that he knew his actions were morally wrong, meaning he faces prison time instead of hospital treatment.

The 38-year-old Fullerton man confessed to police hours after the 2006 killing. Prosecutors say he was angry because of a custody battle over his son.

His defense lawyer argued Omondi suffered from a depressive mental disorder.

Jurors found he was legally sane, both during the killing and during a 2004 attempt to burn his son to death.

Omondi could have been sent to a state mental hospital if he'd been judged insane. He faces up to life in prison when he's sentenced in November.