Reno man gets 2nd-degree murder sentence

RENO - A Reno man was convicted of second-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon in the beating and stomping death of his former lover.

Prosecutors charged Marc Fraide with first-degree murder for the killing of Karyn Marie Miles. But a jury of four women and eight men decided Tuesday that the murder of the mother of three was not premeditated.

After five hours of deliberation, the Washoe County district court jury convicted Fraide of second-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon - his steel-toed construction boots.

Miles survived in a coma 25 days after the Sept. 3, 2003, attack outside a Lemmon Valley convenience store.

Fraide, 30, told investigators that he "snapped" after his ex-girlfriend said something during an argument. He said he punched her with his fists and kicked her.

Prosecutors say Fraide never disclosed what it was the victim said that made him snap. He told authorities he forgot.

Judge Janet Berry scheduled sentencing for Jan. 7. Deputy District Attorney Gemma Waldron said Fraide faces up to 25 years in prison.

Fraide's lawyer, Mary Pat Barry, said Fraide felt harassed after their breakup because Miles repeatedly called him at all hours. She said Fraide approached Miles to tell her to stop calling him.

Barry said Fraide never intended to harm Miles, whose skull he fractured by stomping her head. Miles was 5-foot-5 and about 100 pounds. Witnesses said Fraide confronted her and spit in her face, then punched her, knocked her to the ground and kicked and stomped her head.

A woman saw the attack and yelled to Fraide "stop, you're killing her," according to testimony. Instead, he punctuated his sentence with more stomps when he said "you don't know what this bitch has done to me," Waldron said.

Fraide surrendered to authorities about 90 minutes later.