SAN DIEGO — A man accused of breaking into a woman's Rancho Penasquitos condominium and killing her was acquitted of first-degree murder Friday, but jurors deadlocked on lesser counts of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter.
Prosecutors allege Parrish Juan Chambers Jr., 46, smashed through a window to gain access to Nahal Connie Dadkhah's home and beat her to death, while Chambers' defense attorney, Abram Genser, argued any injuries Chambers may have inflicted were not life-threatening and Dadkhah's methamphetamine use likely caused a fatal brain bleed.
Dadkhah, 45, was found dead on a couch inside her Twin Trails Drive home on the morning of June 15, 2022 after Chambers told one of Dadkhah's neighbors that she wasn't breathing and asked him to call 911.
A San Diego jury deliberated for more than three days before a mistrial was declared due to the jury's deadlock, though jurors did convict Chambers of battery and false imprisonment for other prior altercations involving Dadkhah. It's uncertain whether Chambers will be retried on the deadlocked counts.
Dadkhah's death sparked criticism of San Diego police's response to the residence on the night before she was found dead. Her neighbors called 911 on the night of June 14 to report the disturbance and had called police in the past regarding other violent interactions between Chambers and Dadkhah.
Officers responded to the condo on June 14, but ultimately did not enter the residence and left the scene.
In a news release announcing Chambers' arrest, the police department said officers went to the condo on a report of a disturbance there involving Chambers, but left after being unable to confirm a crime had occurred or being able to make contact with anyone inside.
Dadkhah's family sued the city over the officers' actions. In court filings, attorneys for the city argued that officers did not want to enter the home without a warrant and possibly violate Dadkhah's Fourth Amendment rights.
A federal judge dismissed the suit earlier this year, but left Dadkhah's family the option to file an amended complaint.
In the criminal trial, prosecutors said Dadkhah suffered a litany of injuries, including skull fractures, contusions, lacerations and abrasions. They also cited the pair's turbulent history, in which they said Chambers displayed abusive and violent behavior, including striking and pushing Dadkhah.
Genser conceded his client "roughed her up," but denied Dadkhah's injuries alone killed her and said the pair reconciled afterwards.
The defense attorney argued Chambers was heavily intoxicated to the point of legal unconsciousness and woke up on June 15 with no memory of the previous night to find Dadkhah dead. Genser said a lack of Dadkhah's blood inside the condo ruled out a fatal beating as described by prosecutors and argued Dadkhah used methamphetamine that night, triggering a fatal stroke.
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