Opinion ID: 2600675
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Defendant's job and home environment

Text: Defendant's first job in Sonoma County was at St. Francis Winery in Kenwood. According to his employers, defendant was an able employee who required little supervision. Defendant made a concerted effort to learn English and spoke that language better than most Mexican immigrants. Defendant was neat in his grooming, friendly, got along well, and seemed happy. He strove to become Americanized. According to defendant's coworkers and friends, defendant was a likeable person who appeared to love his daughters. He was known as a joker or a clown. When defendant started working at Grand Cru Vineyard in early 1987, he was friendly, outgoing, and well dressed and arrived on time. Defendant's use of sick leave was minimal in 1987 but steadily increased. Defendant's fellow employee, David Hellman, who had known him for five years, noted defendant was resentful of Butti, who was prejudiced against Mexican workers. Defendant and Hellman went to bars together (and defendant by himself when Hellman did not accompany him) and drank heavily. In 1987, defendant and Hellman first ingested cocaine, and thereafter used the drug together, in one-quarter to one-half gram amounts, every six to eight weeks. In 1988, defendant began to use cocaine while consuming alcoholic beverages. Defendant, described by Hellman as an habitual liar, boasted about being better off than he was in reality. Defendant and Angela obtained a credit card toward the end of 1988, and promptly incurred debt up to the $3,000 maximum. At approximately the same time, defendant purchased a Trans Am automobile that they could not afford. The couple began having difficulty making the payments due on the credit card and the car. By early 1989, defendant relinquished the vehicle to someone else. In the period immediately preceding the murders, defendant's work attendance became more erratic. Hellman warned defendant that if he did not straighten up, he would be fired. Several witnesses who had become acquainted with defendant at various bars or restaurants described his drinking habits. Generally these witnesses spoke well of defendant, stating he treated his wife well and had not been violent. Other witnesses confirmed defendant's movements on the day prior to and on the day of the murders, and provided details of defendant's alcohol consumption during that period. Mr. Richards told a sheriff's deputy that Richards could not understand the killings, because defendant liked Mrs. Richards, who supported her daughter's wish to marry defendant and had done many favors for defendant. The two families had socialized on the Easter Sunday preceding the killings and had a wonderful time. Several witnesses testified that following the murders, defendant acted as if his family were still alive.