Being addicted to drugs does not diminish the guilt of a West Deer man who stabbed his mother to death, an Allegheny County judge ruled Tuesday.
Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey A. Manning yesterday convicted Michael Melendez, 37, of first-degree murder in the Aug. 28, 2002, stabbing death of Linda Melendez, 56, also of West Deer.
Manning immediately sentenced Melendez to a mandatory term of life in prison without parole.
Melendez, his eyes cast downward, did not appear surprised by the verdict.
"I just want to apologize to Pennsylvania, to my mother and my family," Melendez said just before being led away in handcuffs.
His lawyer, Kathleen Cribbins, asked that Melendez be placed under immediate psychiatric care.
"My client has informed me on numerous occasions that if he is found guilty of first-degree murder, he is going to kill himself," Cribbins said.
Cribbins pressed for a conviction on a lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter during a three-day nonjury trial last week.
She said both Melendezes were suffering from heroin withdrawal on the day of the crime, and that Michael Melendez's drug habit and psychological problems prevented him from forming the intent to kill required for a first-degree conviction.
But Manning said yesterday that Melendez's actions, including stabbing his mother 36 times and trying to flee from police after the crime, prove he acted with the malice and intent required for a first-degree murder conviction.
"It is evident to the court he had clarity of thought here," Manning said.
Witnesses testified that both Melendezes were longtime heroin addicts who fought over drugs the day of the stabbing.
Michael Melendez's daughter, Nichole Lugdon, 14, testified that she hid kitchen knives from her father on the day of the killing, fearing he would use them on himself. Michael Melendez later demanded his daughter tell him where they were hidden, and she complied.
Lugdon testified that Linda Melendez once snorted cocaine off Lugdon's hand, and sometimes made her granddaughter steal for drug money.
Defense and prosecution psychiatrists agreed Michael Melendez had a long history of depression and other psychological problems, but disagreed on whether his mental problems and drug addiction prevented him from deciding to deliberately kill his mother.
Melendez led police on a chase on Route 8 after the killing and attempted to collide into pursuing officers.
Manning yesterday also convicted Melendez on aggravated assault, attempting to elude officers, reckless endangering and speeding charges resulting from the chase. Manning gave no extra penalties for those charges.
