Judge sentences man for murder, "marries him" minutes later, report says

(CBS/AP) SAN DIEGO - A judge in San Diego sentenced a man to 53 years in prison for first-degree murder, then officiated at his wedding in the same courtroom just a few minutes later.

She even baked a cake for the ceremony, reports U-T San Diego.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Patricia Cookson oversaw the wedding of Danne Desbrow and fiancée, Destiny, shortly after handing down Desbrow's sentence Sept. 17.

The judge declined to respond to a request for comment from the newspaper.

Desbrow was sentenced for the 2003 killing of Kevin Santos after a witness with key information came forward recently. His defense attorney argued Desbrow was defending himself in a fight.

During the two-month trial, Desbrow proposed to his girlfriend. The two met in high school but lost contact after she became pregnant at 16, according to the U-T newspaper.

They reunited in January after the mother tracked down Desbrow so their son could meet his father. Desbrow was in jail at the time awaiting trial.

After Desbrow proposed, Judge Cookson agreed to marry them, according to the paper.

But first she sentenced Desbrow to two consecutive 25-year-to-life terms and an additional three years for threatening a witness.

After the sentencing, members of the victim's family were escorted out of the courtroom, the newspaper said. The couple's relatives were allowed to remain. The deputies locked the doors and Cookson married the couple.

The couple kissed and Cookson went back to her chambers. Moments later, she appeared with two pieces of vanilla Bundt cake on paper plates with plastic forks.

Destiny Desbrow told the newspaper the judge baked it herself.

Danne Desbrow intends to appeal the murder conviction. He remains in county jail pending another court hearing on a separate case in October.

"Obviously, it was an unusual day from start to finish," defense attorney Steve Cline told the U-T. "I mean, I appreciate that she honored the request for them to marry. But, I've never seen anything like that."