Jury Recommends Death Sentence For Cuban Immigrant

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ An Oklahoma County jury sentenced a Cuban immigrant to death for the 2003 shooting death of his common-law wife. <br/><br/>The seven-woman, five-man jury deliberated for about six

Wednesday, June 13th 2007, 7:27 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ An Oklahoma County jury sentenced a Cuban immigrant to death for the 2003 shooting death of his common-law wife.

The seven-woman, five-man jury deliberated for about six hours Tuesday before deciding that Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez should die for fatally shooting Olimpia Cardina Fisher on May 31, 2003, at the couple's southwest Oklahoma City home.

Prosecutors, who sought the death penalty, asked jurors to decide the appropriate punishment for Cuesta-Rodriguez, 51. They pointed out he shot Fisher, 47, in the eye then waited about eight minutes before firing the fatal shot into the other eye.

Several jurors said that second shot is what convinced them Cuesta-Rodriguez deserved to die.

Fisher's daughter, Cynthia Chacon, said she and her family rejected a proposed plea deal last month that would have landed Cuesta-Rodriguez in prison for life without the possibility of parole.

``You can't choose your punishment,'' she said. ``You have to ... let justice choose it.''

Defense attorney Cathy Hammarsten had urged jurors to consider Cuesta-Rodriguez's entire life, not just the morning he murdered his wife.

``In fairness, sympathy and mercy, refuse the death penalty because you've seen there is more to Carlos Cuesta than the worst thing he's ever done,'' she said.