A Mira Mesa man has been convicted of killing his wife.
David Ditto, 43, called police March 12 saying his wife was hurt after a fall down the stairs at the couple's home in the 7700 block of Canyon Point Lane.
Two days later, Karina Ditto, 38, died from her injuries. The medical examiner conducted an autopsy and declared the death a homicide.
When the verdict was read inside a downtown courtoom Monday morning, City News Service reporter Kelly Wheeler reported that members of Ditto's family gasped, shook and cried.
"Sons of bitches," Ditto's stepfather said from the back row of a crowded courtroom according to Wheeler.
In his March 22 arraignment, Ditto began to shake and cry as the prosecutor read off a list of “significant” and “extensive” injuries.
Deputy District Attorney Claudine Ruiz said the victim suffered from a lot of bruising, which she said would indicate murder, and there was clear evidence of strangulation.
At the arraignment, the judge issued a restraining order barring Ditto from access to his children, aged 10 and 14.
Jurors returned Monday morning with the guilty verdict. Ditto faces 25 years in prison when he is sentenced in Jan. 3, 2012.
Keep up to date on breaking news: Follow us on Twitter @nbcsandiego, fan us on Facebook, sign up for our breaking news e-mail alerts or text SDBREAKING to 622339 to receive text messages for local breaking news. (Standard rates apply)
