Man Gets 25 Years To Life In Monte Sereno Estate Murder
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) – A 25-year-old man was sentenced Friday for a 2012 murder of a wealthy man during a home invasion robbery at the victim's Monte Sereno estate.
Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Ronald Tuff imposed the sentence of 25 years to life consecutive to another 12 years in prison on Javier Garcia for the death of Ravinder "Ravi" Kumra, 66, during a home invasion robbery on Nov. 30, 2012.
Kumra's ex-wife, Harinder Kumra, who was also attacked during the break-in, sat in the courtroom with nearly a dozen family members and friends during this morning's hearing at the Hall of Justice in San Jose.
Garcia was dressed in a red jail uniform and sat next to attorney Mark Becker of the Santa Clara County Alternate Defender's Office, who was appearing on behalf of attorney Christopher Givens.
Garcia and another defendant on the case, 25-year-old DeAngelo Austin, were convicted last month of first-degree murder, robbery in concert, criminal threats and false imprisonment. A third defendant, Marcellous Drummer, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in 2014.
Ravinder Kumra was gagged, tied up and choked to death and his ex-wife was attacked while she was asleep, dragged from a bed and bounded by duct tape that was wrapped around her hands, Smith said.
The robbers gained access into the home with the help of Katrina Fritz, a former prostitute who provided sexual services to Ravinder Kumra between 1999 and 2011 at his Monte Sereno residence and hotels in the area.
Fritz, who negotiated a plea deal and testified against the three defendants in the case, will be sentenced later this year, when she faces up to 17 years in prison, according to Smith.
Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Kevin Smith read a victim impact statement by Harinder Kumra that described how she's haunted by the "violent attack" four years ago and lost her "best friend."
The now-convicted men had entered the couple's home looking for material items and had no "regard to life," according to the statement.
Ravinder Kumra couldn't attend his daughter's wedding or meet his grandchildren, the statement said.
Harinder Kumra didn't ask attorneys to seek the death penalty against Garcia because she's against seeking revenge and believes in karma, according to the statement.
Austin is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 5 when he faces life without the possibility of parole consecutive to additional years that will be decided by the judge, Smith said.
Investigators are still looking for others involved in the break-in as more than three people were inside the home and profited from the robbery, Smith said.
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