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A jilted lover has been found guilty of first degree murder in the death of Smurti Patel in Sacramento, California.
Prosecutors say Timothy Varmall secretly stalked Patel, but made it appear his encounters with her were accidental.
Varmall is said to have first tried to win Patel’s affection, but when that failed, authorities allege his intent changed-to wait for the best opportunity to kill her.
Police say Varmall followed Patel onto a light rail train on February 9, 2015.
Patel agreed to walk with Varmall when they both exited the train, authorities believe he stabbed her seven times in a dark parking lot.
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Patel managed to get across the street to a restaurant , but died four days later.
Varmall escaped, but was arrested February 16.
“The assault was ultimately discovered to have stemmed from a recent friendship between Patel and suspect Varmall,” police said at the time in a statement to the Sacramento Bee.
Varmall will be sentenced under California’s Three Strikes Law. In 1994, he was convicted of sexual penetration with a foreign object and forced oral copulation.
He could be sentenced to a maximum of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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