Jury finds man guilty of using car in murder

A jury deliberated 13 hours over three days before convicting a 21-year-old man of second-degree murder in the 2014 death of Jorge Alberto-Rocha Osuna, 26, of National City, who was crushed by the defendant’s car.

Darius Risberg Watkins, of Spring Valley, faces a sentence of 16 years to life in prison, said Deputy District Attorney Will Watkins, who has the same last name as the defendant but is not related to him.

The incident occurred June 16, 2014 outside a Spring Valley fast food restaurant. Watkins and Osuna did not know each other, but there was a confrontation between them and others at the McDonalds drive-thru window.

Someone was banging on Osuna’s vehicle, which caused him to get out. A fight occurred between two groups. Watkins followed Osuna to his brother’s home in La Mesa.

Prosecutor Watkins said the defendant deliberately rammed Osuna after he got outside his car. Osuna was on life support for two days before he died.

El Cajon Superior Court Judge Daniel Goldstein set sentencing for April 1. Watkins is expected to get 15 years to life for murder plus one year for using a vehicle as a deadly weapon.

The trial began with testimony on Jan. 19 and the verdict was reached Feb. 2. Watkins remains in jail.