Friday, February 19, 2010

Estrada found guilty of capital murder

The punishment phase of the trial starts today, I believe.

I still believe the death penalty will be assessed.  A lot will depend on what the defense does in the way of mitigating evidence of course.


Estrada guilty of killing Viola Barrios
By Craig Kapitan - Express-News 
 
VICTORIA – A Victoria County jury found Joe Estrada Jr. guilty of capital murder Thursday afternoon for killing well-known San Antonio restaurateur Viola Barrios after deliberating for about two hours.

Estrada's mother hurried out of the courtroom after the verdict was read and could be heard wailing loudly from the women's bathroom. Afterward, her family and defense attorneys tried to calm her.

Estrada showed no reaction when the verdict was read, but appeared stressed as he heard his mother cry.

The rest of the story: