The convicted killer of Ghedeer “Tony” Radda in his downtown floor supply store received life in prison without the possibility of parole on June 29 plus 35 years for robbing a Point Loma adult book store.

Because Kevin Eugene Cartwright, 55, had been convicted of three felonies before, his sentence for robbery of the Adult Depot store at 3487 Kurtz St. was tripled.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Eugenia Eyherabide imposed 25 years to life for the robbery and added 10 years for the use of the gun because she said the clerk was terrified of Cartwright using a gun during the Oct. 9, 2018 incident.

She ordered Cartwright to pay $30,573 to the crime victim’s fund, which was believed to be for Radda’s funeral and burial expenses, and $7,691 in restitution to the victim’s family expenses. Eyherabide also ordered Cartwright to pay $400 in restitution to the Adult Depot.

A jury convicted Cartwright of first-degree murder on June 1 under the special circumstances of murder during a robbery and burglary of the Bottom Price Flooring store where Radda was shot three times on G Street downtown on Oct. 10, 2018.

“Your conduct was pure evil,” said Eyherabide to him. “The appropriate sentence is life without parole.”

Attending the sentencing were 15 family members and friends of Radda, 49, who came here from Iraq in 1978 and raised a family.

“The man who took his life was born in the land of opportunity,” said Radda’s sister, Ghayda Young, referring to Cartwright. “I pray God have mercy on his soul.”

“I think about my brother every day,” said Young. “I can’t capture how our hearts have been broken for him.”

A good friend of Radda’s, Fernando Jacobo, who now operates the store, read a letter he wrote to Radda. “I wish you were still here. I miss you and I love you,” said Jacobo.

Deputy District Attorney Matthew Greco said Cartwright had been given some work by Radda. Greco said Radda was so generous that he would have given Cartwright money had he asked for it.

The camera surveillance tapes showed Cartwright wearing a “grandma” mask and creeping around the store while Lorena Espinoza, 38, wearing a blue wig, distracted Radda. Cartwright shot Radda off camera and broke into the cash register, stealing several thousand dollars.

Espinoza pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison on Jan. 21. She now lives in a women’s prison in Chowchilla. Espinoza told police Cartwright paid her $150 for her role in distracting Radda.

Cartwright’s attorney, Jeremy Thornton, asked the judge not to impose a life sentence without parole, saying such a term was cruel and unusual. He said his client suffered childhood trauma, such as his father beating his mother and him, and he became addicted to drugs at age 19.

Thornton said Cartwright failed to develop certain control over his behavior due to trauma. He unsuccessfully urged Eyherabide to not impose consecutive terms for using a gun and to strike his prior convictions.

Greco told the judge Cartwright was convicted in 1988 of robberies and he learned to disguise himself.

Though he did wear the “grandma” mask in the store and walked about seven blocks still wearing it, cameras in street lights took his picture when he took it off.

The murder weapon and the “grandma” mask were not recovered, but a gun owned by Radda that was taken in the robbery was found in Cartwright’s possession. In his apartment, police found ammunition similar to the type that killed Radda, Greco said.

Cartwright said nothing at the sentencing and did not testify in his 2 1/2 week trial.