Crime & Safety

Rapist, Killer Found Guilty

A man was convicted of the first-degree murder, rape and kidnapping of a Temecula musician today.

A man who kidnapped, raped and killed his fiancee in Temecula was found guilty today.

Mickey David Beauchamp Wagstaff, 27, of Pala, was convicted at the in French Valley of first-degree murder with the special circumstances of kidnapping and raping his fiancee, Elizabeth "Bipsy" Kellenbarger Amirian, 27, of Temecula.

The jury deliberated for less than five hours before deciding he stabbed the woman to death in the parking structure of The Promenade mall in Temecula. To read about what happened,

Prosecution alleged he killed her because she tried to call off their wedding. To read the prosecution's argument, .

Find out what's happening in Temeculawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The jury made the right choice, said Jennifer Garcia of the District Attorney's office and the prosecutor of this case. "I'm glad they did the right thing, and I really think he's going to get exactly what he deserves," she said after the verdict was read.

The defense argued against the first-degree murder charge in favor of second-degree because he had no plans to kill. To read about the evidence for that,

The prosecution said he did plan to kill her, which was evidenced by his binding her and keeping her trapped in his van. To read about the evidence for that,.

Find out what's happening in Temeculawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When the killing happened, Wagstaff was thrown into a state of panic when a sheriff's sergeant unexpectedly knocked on the window of the van where Amirian was tied up. To read about what happened in the van,.

The prosecution argued he was an upstanding man before the killing. His brother testified he was devoutly religious and a youth leader at their Murrieta church. To read about what friends of Wagstaff said,

The killer was mentally unstable, argued defense, and at several points during interrogations, Wagstaff implied he was possessed by an unseen force when the killing happened. To read about what he said, .

Family members gathered outside the courtroom after the verdict was read, where they hugged, cried and smiled.

"We couldn't be happier (about the verdict)," said Michael Plato, the victim's stepfather.

The defense also argued against the special circumstance of rape, because no evidence except for a confession from Wagstaff pointed to that, said defense attorney Renee Rupp during the trial. To read about the argument, .


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