PATERSON, N.J. (AP) - A California man has been convicted in the shooting deaths of his estranged wife and another person inside a New Jersey church.
Joseph Pallipurath (pal-ee-PYOR'-ath) faces life in prison without parole at sentencing May 27.
The Sacramento resident was convicted Wednesday afternoon of murdering Reshma James and a bystander who tried to help her. He also was convicted of attempting to murder another woman.
Passaic County prosecutors say he drove across the country to confront his wife after she traveled to New Jersey to escape what relatives say was an abusive marriage. He had two handguns when he entered St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Kananaya Church in Clifton on Nov. 23, 2008.
He fled but was arrested in Georgia the next day.
Defense attorney Harley Breite told jurors his client acted in the heat of passion.