No death penalty for son charged with killing parents

Prosecutors have announced they will not seek the death penalty in the case of a San Diego man charged in the shooting deaths of his parents nearly two years ago.

That means that Peter David Haynes, 24, will face a possible sentence of life in prison without parole if he is convicted of killing emergency physician Dr. David Haynes, 62, and Lissa Haynes, 61, in their Sunset Cliffs home.

Deputy District Attorney Makenzie Harvey made the announcement Friday in front of San Diego Superior Court Judge Laura Halgren.

San Diego County prosecutors do not disclose the reasons they choose not to pursue the death penalty in any particular case. Usually, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis meets with the defense lawyers in the case, as well as other high-level prosecutors in her office and consults with the victims’ family members before making the decision.

Haynes is accused of killing his parents the morning of Nov. 28, 2014 at their home on Tarento Drive. It was the day after Thanksgiving.

A San Diego police officer testified at a court hearing earlier this year that he was the first to arrive at the house after the shooting and found the victims. He said David Haynes was seriously wounded but still alive, so the officer asked what happened.

“My son shot me,” was the response.

And when the officer asked why the son would do that, Haynes replied: “He’s schizophrenic.”

Peter Haynes was arrested later that morning as police noticed him trying to duck under police tape. He was carrying a gun, police said.

A trial date has been set for Oct. 18 in San Diego Superior Court but that is likely to change if Haynes decides to plead not guilty by reason of insanity.

His lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Mignon Hilts said Friday that she is likely to announce whether Haynes will enter an insanity plea at a status conference scheduled for Aug. 19.