Suspects in killing of PC World editor could face death penalty MARTINEZ Computer magazine editor was slain during home invasion

In this undated photo provided by PC World, Rex Farrance, a senior editor at PC World magazine, is shown. Farrance, 59, the San Francisco-based magazine's senior technical editor, was shot in the chest after four masked men broke into his Pittsburg, Calif., home Tuesday evening, Jan. 9, 2007, police said. (AP Photo/PC World) **EDS NOTE: PHOTOGRAPH IS SHOWN AS RECEIVED. NO TONING WAS DONE TO PICTURE, NO SALES** Ran on: 01-12-2007 Rex Farrance was killed by gunmen who forced their way into his home and hit his wife with a pistol. Ran on: 01-12-2007 Ran on: 01-12-2007 Ran on: 01-12-2007 Ran on: 01-23-2007 Rex Farrance was shot to death in his Pittsburg home Jan. 9. Ran on: 01-23-2007 Rex Farrance was shot to death in his Pittsburg home Jan. 9. **EDS NOTE: PHOTOGRAPH IS SHOWN AS RECEIVED. NO TONING WAS DONE TO PICTURE** less In this undated photo provided by PC World, Rex Farrance, a senior editor at PC World magazine, is shown. Farrance, 59, the San Francisco-based magazine's senior technical editor, was shot in the chest after ... more Photo: Pc World Photo: Pc World Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Suspects in killing of PC World editor could face death penalty 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Three men could face the death penalty after being charged Tuesday with special-circumstances murder in the fatal shooting of a longtime PC World magazine editor during a home invasion robbery in Pittsburg, authorities said.

Tremaine Amos, 25, of Bay Point and Darryl Hudson and Montrell Hall, both 23 and of Pittsburg, were charged with murder, robbery and burglary in the Jan. 9 slaying of Rex Farrance, who was a senior technical editor for PC World in San Francisco.

The men were each charged with two special circumstances that could result in the death penalty if they are convicted: murder in the commission of a robbery and murder in the commission of a burglary, said Contra Costa County prosecutor Harold Jewett.

The men demanded money after bursting into Farrance's home on Argosy Court, which was filled with a large quantity of marijuana, authorities said. Farrance turned 59 two days before he was killed. His wife, Lenore Vantosh-Farrance, was pistol-whipped, and the robbers made off with a safe with guns inside, police said.

Hudson was allegedly armed with a .22-caliber revolver when he shot Farrance in the chest, said Pittsburg police Lt. Brian Addington. The weapon was recovered six days after the slaying following a car chase involving two half-brothers of Amos, Addington said.

Farrance's family believes the killers decided to target the home after learning from his son's friend that marijuana was grown in the home and money would be readily available. Farrance's son, Sterling Farrance, has said his father let him grow medical marijuana at home.

Hudson and Hall are on trial in Martinez this week on charges they robbed a Pittsburg restaurant on Jan. 24, Addington said. Amos is in state prison following convictions on evading police and throwing a gun at a California Highway Patrol cruiser during a chase Jan. 21.

Farrance's stepdaughter, who wished to be identified only by her first name, Ananda, said Tuesday that she was pleased with the arrests. "These were really bad men," said the 36-year-old San Francisco woman. "These aren't your run-of-the-mill petty thieves. They went in there and they targeted him. I think that they deserve the death penalty. These people do not deserve to live."

Jewett declined to discuss authorities' theory on why Farrance was killed. "I'm not going to get into the detail surrounding why (the defendants) did what they did or exactly what they did," he said.

Farrance's family also expressed outrage at initial suggestions by police and the media that he was a possible drug dealer or user.

Jewett said, "Without regard to the legality of the extensive marijuana-growing operation that was taking place in the residence, we regard Mr. Farrance as an innocent victim in this case."