Iraq veteran pleads not guilty in girlfriend's death

Iraq veteran pleads not guilty in girlfriend's death


Authorities say they had to use a Taser to subdue John Wylie Needham, 25, when they arrived at his condo. They found Jacqwelyn Joann Villagomez, 19, severely beaten. She later died.
By Christine Hanley, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 27, 2008
A decorated Iraq war veteran pleaded not guilty Friday to beating his girlfriend to death in his San Clemente condominium earlier this month.

John Wylie Needham, 25, was arrested and charged after Orange County sheriff's deputies found his girlfriend, 19-year-old Jacqwelyn Joann Villagomez, in his bedroom severely beaten. She died a few hours later.


Needham's family and a large group of other supporters filled one side of the courtroom Friday as they waited most of the day for his arraignment. The proceeding was delayed twice because he had not been transported from the nearby county jail as scheduled by sheriff's deputies.

He returned from Iraq a changed man, with severe mental problems and nightmares and still in pain from shrapnel wounds to his legs and back, according to his family. They knew he was struggling but did not expect him to turn violent, they said.
click post title for more