First-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.

At the conclusion of Garuma’s 6-day trial, Lancaster County Judge Joseph C. Madenspacher took about 40 minutes Friday to determine that Garuma plotted the rape and grisly murder, in which he used a knife to nearly decapitate Beyene the night of Sept. 22, 2005.

Garuma pleaded guilty last week to criminal homicide. Madenspacher’s task was to decide the degree of guilt and whether Garuma raped Beyene.

First Assistant District Attorney Heidi Eakin portrayed Garuma as an obsessed, cold-blooded killer motivated by a suspicion that Beyene was having an affair with another man.

“This was deliberate and premeditated, with specific intent to kill,” Eakin said.

She also told Madenspacher that Garuma blamed Beyene for making him kill her, lied to police and neither showed remorse nor took responsibility for the rape or the murder.

Garuma wanted Beyene to suffer, Eakin said.

“The weapon of choice is a kitchen knife, which means the killing was going to be up-close and personal,” Eakin said. “He saw her face. He’s not doing it quick. Instead, he’s almost toying with her. She had 14 separate cuts.

“I can’t imagine the horror of something like this. Then he delivers the coup de grâce,” Eakin said.

Eakin theorized that Garuma forced Beyene at knifepoint from her East Hempfield Township apartment, drove to his city apartment and raped her shortly after they arrived.

“Rape is the ultimate act of possession and control,” Eakin said. “There is nothing to suggest their romantic interlude was anything but an act of possession and control.”

Defense attorney David Blanck implored Madenspacher to settle for a third-degree murder conviction and acquit Garuma of the rape.

He told the judge that Garuma acted out of character when he became violent with Beyene.

“He was blinded by anger,” Blanck said. “He has never contested that he killed Gigi. He accepted responsibility and has always mourned her.”

Garuma and Beyene were a loving couple for nine months but, like all couples, experienced problems, Blanck said.

Garuma and Beyene came to the United States separately after winning a visa lottery in Ethiopia. They started dating after being introduced through mutual friends.

Blanck said the two sometimes worked 60 hours a week to make extra money to send to relatives in Ethiopia.

“He loved Gigi,” Blanck said. “There was no abusive sex. Sex was part of their normal relationship.”

The prosecutors displayed a blood-stained knife, the clothes Garuma and Beyene were wearing the night of the murder, a video of the crime scene, autopsy photographs, video from a convenience store Garuma visited after killing Beyene and notes Garuma left at the crime scene.

They also used a detailed confession Garuma gave police and testimony from a forensic pathologist, fingerprint and blood-spatter experts, detectives, Beyene’s roomates, the man Garuma contacted after the murder and the man Garuma believed was having an affair with Beyene.

Blanck and defense attorney Patricia Spotts brought a forensic pathologist from Allentown to refute county pathologist Dr. Wayne K. Ross’ findings that Beyene was strangled and raped.

Dr. John M. Shane reviewed Ross’ autopsy report, the 24-page statement Garuma gave police, 20 color autopsy and 47 crime-scene photographs.

“I cannot find rape in this case,” Shane said Thursday. “There is no injury to the groin or vaginal area.”

Shane also disputed evidence Beyene was strangled.

“This was a death of great passion, a rage-filled adrenaline rush.

“If strangling occurred, I would expect thumb imprints,” Shane said. “You need a lot of imprint pressure and extreme pressure levels to leave thumb prints on upper interior neck.”

Eakin took Shane to task for downplaying elements of the attack. She asserted that Garuma held a knife to Beyene so she would not resist and redressed her lifeless body.

“If I held a knife to your neck and told you take your pants off,” Eakin asked Shane, “would you?”

“I don’t know if that happened,” Shane said.

“That’s right, you don’t know,” Eakin said.

Beyene’s brother, uncle and a friend attended the trial and said they plan to speak in court when Garuma is sentenced.

Madenspacher ordered a presentence investigation for Garuma, who is being held in county prison without bail.

A sentencing date has not been scheduled.


Brett Lovelace’s e-mail address is blovelace@lnpnews.com. blog comments powered by Disqus