An Oroville man was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Nov. 4 for the strangling of his mother.
Brian Weissinger, 36, had been charged with involuntary manslaughter for the murder of his mother at his home on Jan. 15, 2014. He had originally been charged with first degree murder, but was not found guilty of that crime, according to Oroville court records.
Weissinger and his mother were having a conversation when she attacked him after bringing up his alleged child molestation.
Weissinger was then attacked with a spoon on an area of his head where had gotten brain surgery.
Doctors had warned Weissinger that he must not receive anymore blows to the head as it could prove fatal.
Jesse Santana, Weissinger’s attorney, said that the mother’s actions resulted in his client defending himself and he reacted violently.
A psychological evaluation found Weissinger had a history of mental and physical health problems.
Still, Weissinger’s sister wanted him in prison.
“I will never be able to trust him again, please don’t let him out,” said Alice Weissinger in a letter to the judge.
Jurors decided Weissinger could not be charged with first degree murder because he had not shown calculated reasoning and judgement at the time of the murder. The evidence did show that his motivations were purely due to a sudden heat of passion.
- Roberto Fonseca ,ChicoReport
