Man gets 25 years in murder of mother, 90

David Gaul, left, wearing a “suicide smock,” and attorney Brian Walker listen to one of Gaul’s daughters address Superior Court Judge Roger Bennett on Tuesday. (Zachary Kaufman/The Columbian)

Jennifer Gaul, center left, and Katie Gaul, center right, comfort each other during their father David Gaul’s sentencing Tuesday in Clark County Superior Court. (Zachary kaufman/The Columbian)

A retired firefighter who claimed his career made him an alcoholic and left him with post-traumatic stress disorder was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years in prison for murdering his 90-year-old mother.

Before the sentence was handed down by a Clark County Superior Court judge, defendant David F. Gaul’s two daughters tearfully declared him a wonderful, caring father.

Then it was Gaul’s turn to speak.

"Your honor, I know I’m standing here right now convicted of murdering my mother, but the fact is, I loved my mother very much," Gaul told Judge Roger Bennett.

"I’m not a violent person by nature," Gaul said.

Junette Gaul was beaten and strangled Jan. 2, 2008, in her Hazel Dell home.

Her drunk son was found next to her body, with blood on his hands and clothing.

"This was a horrific, egregious crime," Bennett said.

The sentence was the midpoint between the 30 years requested by Deputy Prosecutor Tony Golik and the mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years sought by defense attorney Brian Walker.

While Golik argued that a brutal beating of one’s own mother was deserving of the longer term, Walker asked Bennett to keep in mind that for 30 years Gaul was a dedicated, decorated firefighter in Portland.

"He has contributed to our community," Walker said.

On April 10, a jury of 12 unanimously rejected Gaul’s defense that mental disorders kept him from forming the legal intent to murder his mother. Gaul was convicted of first-degree murder.

Gaul, 57, testified at trial that he had no memory of his mother’s death.

"I don’t know what happened to her," Gaul reiterated Tuesday. "I wish I did."

Golik argued to jurors that Gaul had become enraged after learning five days before the slaying that his mother received money from the sale of his house.

In 2007 Gaul was serving time in the Multnomah County Inverness Jail for driving drunk, and assigned his niece to sell his house. He was released Dec. 27, 2007, and his erratic behavior prompted his mother to seek a restraining order against him.

After the victim’s death, she was described by family members as a sympathetic, socially conscious woman and a tireless volunteer. Junette Gaul worked for 17 years as an aide at Fruit Valley Elementary School and volunteered for 20 years with the Clark College Mature Learning program and five decades with the Clark County Department of Elections.

On Tuesday, two granddaughters, Jennifer and Katie Gaul, called their father "a great man."

Bennett said he doubted the daughters’ lives with their alcoholic father was as "rosy" as they described.

"I don’t think it was a Beaver Cleaver-type household," Bennett said, adding his surprise at their strong showing of support.

"But that’s what happens in families," Bennett said.

Stephanie Rice: 360-735-4549 or stephanie.rice@columbian.com.