Former Cop Found Guilty In 2007 Drowning Death Of Wife

RIVERSIDE (KNX1070/AP) — A former San Bernardino police officer has been convicted of murdering his wife in a backyard hot tub at his retrial in Riverside.

The Riverside Press-Enterprise says the jury returned the verdict for Blair Christopher Hall Tuesday, rejecting claims that his wife accidentally slipped and drowned in June 2007.

This was the second trial for Hall after a different jury deadlocked 8-4 in favor of guilt last year.

Prosecutors presented autopsy evidence during the trial that revealed Cristi Lynne Hall's body suffered hemorrhages in her face consistent with homicidal drowning.

Hall is a former San Bernardino police detective who ran a private records search company after returning from two small-town police chief jobs in Idaho.

KNX 1070's Mike Landa reports that Strunsky said the attempted to use his law enforcement background to his advantage.

"We found it to be very relevant that he was in law enforcement because he did put on quite an act both in front of his family members, as well as the original detectives and ultimately during his testimony at trial," Strunsky said.

He faces 25 years to life in prison when he's sentenced in July.

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