State appellate court rejects appeal in 2010 Pacific Grove murder

A state appellate court has rejected an appeal in a 2010 murder in Pacific Grove.

Sunny Nguyen was convicted of stabbing Judith Salazar to death inside her Pacific Grove home in November 2010. Nguyen has two children with Salazar’s daughter, Amanda Roger.

During the trial in Monterey County, Nguyen testified that he attacked Salazar in a rage after she told him he could no longer see his children, and after she slashed his hand with a small knife when he entered her home to retrieve his children.

He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 26 years to life in prison.

On appeal, he argued that the Monterey County Superior Court erred in their instructions to the jury with regards to a person’s right to eject a trespasser. He argued the instruction was irrelevant and countermanded portions of the second-degree murder and voluntary manslaughter instructions jurors also were given.

In a decision released Monday, the 6th District Court of Appeals in San Jose rejected Nguyen’s contentions and upheld his conviction.

To view the court’s entire decision, click here.