A jury has found former Alameda County sheriff’s deputy Devin Williams guilty of first-degree murder in the tragic shooting deaths of a Dublin couple, Maria and Benison Tran. The verdict, delivered on October 3, comes nearly a year after the couple was killed in their home on September 7, 2022. At the time of the incident, the couple’s teenage son was present.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that Williams, 26, had been in a romantic relationship with Maria Tran while she was still married to Benison. Williams pleaded not guilty to the charges, with his defense team arguing for voluntary manslaughter, claiming the shooting was a crime of passion.
District Attorney Pamela Price expressed gratitude to the jury and her prosecutors, noting the dedication of victim-witness advocates who provided support to the victims’ families despite significant public scrutiny surrounding the case. Price also dropped special circumstances enhancements against Williams, a decision that sparked some community controversy.
“This horrific tragedy leaves a son without his parents and a community forever traumatized by this unacceptable and vicious home invasion attack on an unarmed and unsuspecting couple,” Price said in a statement.
Following the double homicide, it was discovered that Williams had failed his psychological evaluation for law enforcement but was still allowed to serve as a deputy. This revelation prompted former Sheriff Greg Ahern to initiate an audit of the department, uncovering that 47 other deputies had also received “unsuitable” results on their psychological tests. Many of these deputies were temporarily suspended from some duties, but most have since returned to work.
The state conducted an investigation into the matter, but no formal discipline or public report was issued. Williams now faces a maximum sentence of 50 years to life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for November 12.
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