A gay San Francisco attorney has been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for his role in conspiring with four other men to kill a Palm Springs retiree in 2008. David Replogle, 76, was convicted of murder and maintained his innocence throughout two trials, claiming he acted under duress.
The case involves five defendants: Replogle, Miguel Bustamante, Kaushal Niroula, Daniel Garcia, and Craig McCarthy. Prosecutors alleged they were involved in the conspiracy to steal property and money from Lambert, who was stabbed to death in his kitchen. Investigators found 32,000 text messages between the defendants that implicated them in the crime.
Niroula, also known as the “Dark Prince,” was a master con artist who orchestrated several scams in the Bay Area before becoming involved in the murder plot. His true identity was a fabrication – he claimed to be Nepalese royalty but was actually born in Nepal.
Another defendant, Garcia, received the same life sentence earlier this year after claiming his texts implicating him in the crime were falsified. Bustamante also received a life sentence, while McCarthy pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and testified against the other men, securing a reduced sentence.
The case has been described as one of the most unusual in California history due to its complexity and resources spent on it. Replogle’s attorney left without comment after the sentencing.
Source: https://www.ebar.com/story/155978