Merced man gets life for killing wife in front of family

MERCED, Calif. (AP) — A Central Valley man who shot his wife to death last year during a crowded family barbecue has been sentenced to 50 years to life in prison.

The Merced Sun-Star reports a jury in June convicted Crisanto Bedolla of premeditated murder. The 61-year-old was sentenced Monday.

Bedolla shot and killed Lucia Medrano Zarco, his wife of more than 40 years, at a backyard party last August. The couple had eight children, many of whom were at the party and saw their father kill their mother. They also had numerous grandchildren.

Defense lawyers had argued for a manslaughter charge, claiming the crime was not premeditated. They said Bedolla was humiliated because his long marriage was ending and his wife had been dating another man.