Emotional sentencing for Guerrero

This article is running as an update in the Breaking News section of the Sun's web site. But the version here includes more quotes and details from this morning's sentencing for Damien Matthew Guerrero.

By Mike Cruz
Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO -- Amidst a crowded courtroom, Damien Matthew Guerrero was sentenced today for the death of 18-year-old Redlands college student Kelly Bullwinkle during a highly emotional hearing.
Family members and friends of Bullwinkle spoke of the young woman who was violently ripped from their lives and the pain they feel for the loss, during proceedings in San Bernardino Superior Court.
"The pain is unbearable even today, as she is always with me, when I awaken in the morning and go to bed at night," Bullwinkle's grandmother Dolores Trujillo Fuller told the court. "Wherever I go, reminders are there."
Two large photographs of Bullwinkle, one with her beloved horse Banner and a granduation picture, flanked the lawyer's table as Guerrero was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison, under the terms of a plea bargain reached July 25 with prosecutors and the court.
Under the agreement, the 23-year-old Guerrero pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and a sentence enhancement of using a firearm in the crime.
Kelly's mother told the court that while Guerrero robbed society of a beautiful human being, he can never take the memories of her daughter and Kelly's love and spirit from her.
"This criminal has destroyed so many lives and taken so much away from the world, and especially from me," Diana Bullwinkle said. "My loss is so immense that there are no words to describe the void in my heart."
A video presentation of photographs of Bullwinkle's life drew tears from the audience and court staff. There were family pictures of her as a baby through her teen years, which appeared to show her on holidays, at school, with horses and in sports.
"My daughter Kelly was a beautiful, giving, responsible young girl coming into her own," said Diana Bullwinkle. "She was attending college, working a job, caring for a our blind diabetic dog Blaze, and caring for her horse Banner.
"Kelly was a talented equestrian rider, musician, writer, athlete and loving daughter and friend to all she met," her mother said.
The young woman's grandfather, Jesus M. Gonzalez, described the loss as being the most horrifying in his life.
"We used to laugh, shop, tell stories, go to movies and just spend time together," Gonzalez explained to the court. "I have such emptiness in my life that I can almost taste it. Sometimes the tears flow as I realize all over again that she will not be coming in the door."
Guerrero will be eligible for parole after serving 15 years from the date of his arrest, which will be in November 2018. But prosecutors view the sentence as a life term, said Deputy District Attorney Lewis Cope.
The defendant addressed the court, through a statement read by his lawyer Brent F. Romney, where he apologized to Bullwinkle, her family and his own family for his actions.
"I have wanted to tell Kelly how very sorry I am for what happened to her that night," Romney read, from Guerrero's statement.
The defendant said he has wanted to speak for a long time but was advised against it by his attorneys. Guerrero said he realizes his words may seem shallow and insincere, and that his future actions and conduct will tell his true intentions.
Guerrero said he hopes Kelly Bullwinkle and her loved ones "will someday find it in their heart to forgive me."
Prosecutors and police contend Guerrero and co-defendant Kinzie Noordman of Redlands lured Kelly Bullwinkle to a remote area of San Timoteo Canyon on Sept. 13, 2003, and took turns shooting her.
In March 2005, a jury deadlocked on a first-degree murder charge against Guerrero. The final vote was 11-1 for a guilty verdict.
Noordman was convicted of first-degree murder during that trial and sentenced to 45 years in prison two months later.