North Breaks Down, Cries After Guilty Verdict Announced
By: Morgan Bond
Updated: October 26, 2011
It was an emotional day in court as the defense presented their closing arguments to the jury in the murder trial of Christopher North. North was found guilty Tuesday in the shooting death of Austin David following a road rage incident at South 14th Street and Sayles Boulevard in February.
North's lawyer, Sam Moore, wanted to play a video to show the jury what it would be like to have someone point a gun in their face, like they said David did to North before the fatal shot was fired. The judge didn't allow it. Instead, Moore told the jury to imagine what it would have been like, and try to see the incident through North's eyes.
The prosecution emphasized how North made the decision to get back into his truck and back into David's Mustang, after both men had initially gotten back into their cars. They said North knew David would get out of his car after it was pushed into the median to confront North again, giving North the opportunity to shoot him and claim self defense.
The prosecution ended their closing argument by reminding the jury what North said immediately after the shooting. North was heard saying, "That's what you get when you put a gun in someone's face." The prosecution called that statement the words of a murderer.
Closing arguments ended at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. The jury returned their verdict at 3 p.m. When it was announced, North immediately slumped over and started to cry.
His attorney told him to hug his mother, before he was escorted across the street by several sheriff's deputies to his attorney's office.
The sentencing phase of the trial starts Wednesday at 9 a.m. The jury will hear from character witnesses from both sides before they make a decision. North faces anywhere from 5 to 99 years in prison.
North's lawyer, Sam Moore, wanted to play a video to show the jury what it would be like to have someone point a gun in their face, like they said David did to North before the fatal shot was fired. The judge didn't allow it. Instead, Moore told the jury to imagine what it would have been like, and try to see the incident through North's eyes.
The prosecution emphasized how North made the decision to get back into his truck and back into David's Mustang, after both men had initially gotten back into their cars. They said North knew David would get out of his car after it was pushed into the median to confront North again, giving North the opportunity to shoot him and claim self defense.
The prosecution ended their closing argument by reminding the jury what North said immediately after the shooting. North was heard saying, "That's what you get when you put a gun in someone's face." The prosecution called that statement the words of a murderer.
Closing arguments ended at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. The jury returned their verdict at 3 p.m. When it was announced, North immediately slumped over and started to cry.
His attorney told him to hug his mother, before he was escorted across the street by several sheriff's deputies to his attorney's office.
The sentencing phase of the trial starts Wednesday at 9 a.m. The jury will hear from character witnesses from both sides before they make a decision. North faces anywhere from 5 to 99 years in prison.
