A 46-year-old man has been convicted of first-degree murder for killing his former girlfriend, whose remains were found in May 2004 near Palm Springs.

The Van Nuys Superior Court jury found true the special circumstance allegations that Paul Baker murdered Judy Palmer during a rape and a burglary.

Baker also was convicted of five other counts involving Palmer, including forcible rape, first-degree residential burglary and grand theft auto.

Additionally, jurors found him guilty of three counts involving two other women who were sexually assaulted on separate occasions, but acquitted him of sex-related charges filed in connection with two other women.

The panel is due back in court on Monday for the start of the trial’s penalty phase, in which jurors will be asked to recommend whether Baker should be sentenced to death or life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Palmer’s decomposing body was found on May 11, 2004, by a transient near Interstate 10 and Gene Autry Trail.

Authorities were not able to determine how the 60-year-old Reseda woman had been killed.

Baker was arrested on May 20, 2004, by the Los Angeles Police Department. He has remained jailed since then without bail.

Police said shortly after Baker’s arrest that the two were involved in a volatile relationship at that he was arrested on April 5, 2004, after forcing his way into Palmer’s apartment.

Baker remained in police custody until April 15, 2004, and Palmer was reported missing by relatives three days later.

—From news services

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