A jury convicted a San Francisco man of involuntary manslaughter today for the 2008 death of his girlfriend, who died after falling from a third-story window as she tried to escape from him, prosecutors said.
Eloy Muniz, 50, was facing second-degree murder charges for the death of 46-year-old Cindy Weaver, who he chased into the bathroom of a friend’s home in the 2700 block of Folsom Street in the city’s Mission District on the night of Oct. 3, 2008.
However, the jury decided to convict Muniz of the lesser manslaughter charge, district attorney’s office spokesman Omid Talai said.
Muniz was also found guilty of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, felony criminal threats and breaking a criminal protective order, but was acquitted of a false imprisonment charge, Talai said.
Weaver had locked the bathroom door to get away from Muniz and tried to escape by climbing out the window but fell, and died from her injuries 17 days later, prosecutors said.
Muniz had a history of domestic abuse and was on probation for a felony domestic violence charge at the time of the incident, Talai said.
Muniz, Weaver and the friend had been drinking over dinner at the friend’s home when Muniz apparently became abusive and accused her of infidelity. Weaver had previously tried to end the relationship, prosecutors said.
After Weaver locked herself in the bathroom, neighbors reported seeing her with one leg inside the bathroom window and one leg reaching for the neighbor’s roof when she fell.
Deputy Public Defender Mark Iverson, who represented Muniz, was not immediately available for comment today on the verdict.
Muniz could face a sentence of more than four years in state prison, Talai said. The sentencing is scheduled for April 20.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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