NORTH HOLLYWOOD : Man Convicted of Killing Girlfriend
A North Hollywood man who testified that he wanted his girlfriend to “burn in hell†was convicted Thursday of dousing the woman with gasoline, setting her afire and killing her.
A San Fernando Superior Court jury found Stephen Cole, 42, guilty of first-degree murder, arson and a special circumstance of inflicting torture, which could send him to the gas chamber.
Cole was convicted of murdering Mary Anne Mahoney, 42, a barmaid who died 11 days after being set afire in the couple’s home in 1988, Deputy Dist. Atty. Kenneth A. Loveman said.
During the trial, Cole, who believed that Mahoney was going to leave him, told the jury: “I hate Mary Anne Mahoney to this day.†He admitted killing Mahoney but, to avoid the special circumstance allegation, said he did not intend to inflict such pain, Loveman said.
The penalty phase of the trial begins Monday.
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