AUSTIN, Texas — Two hours into deliberations, the jury in Kaitlin Armstrong's trial reached a verdict. Judge Brenda Kennedy read that the jury found Kaitlin Armstrong guilty of murdering 25-year-old cyclist Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson in Austin, Texas in May 2022.
When the verdict was read, Wilson's family and friends were overcome with emotions. They embraced each other and soft cries were heard throughout the courtroom. Wilson's parents and brother have been in court since day 1, along with friend Caitlin Cash. They've listened to dozens of hours of witness testimony, including the 911 call Cash placed when finding Wilson was shot in her apartment. Other testimony delved into Armstrong searching Wilson's location on the fitness app Strava, and how Armstrong's DNA was collected from Wilson's bicycle.
Kaitlin Armstrong looked forward when the verdict was read. She did not display outward emotion. Armstrong's sister, Christie Armstrong, was also emotional after the verdict was read. Christie Armstrong began to cry in the courtroom before defense attorney Mark Pryor walked her out.
The sentencing portion began soon after the verdict was read. That hearing ended at around 5 p.m. and will begin again Friday morning.
The closing arguments in the case were presented Thursday after nine days of testimony.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors argued that Armstrong killed Wilson out of jealousy, due to Wilson's friendship and brief fling with cyclist Colin Strickland. Armstrong and Strickland dated off and on since the fall of 2019.
Through witness testimony, the prosecution pointed to evidence to suggest Armstrong was in the area of the crime prior to and minutes after Wilson was shot. Armstrong's search history, cell phone data, and forensic evidence were also brought up in court. The defense argued that there was no direct evidence connecting Armstrong to the crime. Armstrong chose not to testify in her own defense, which jurors legally cannot hold against her when deliberating.
Thursday was the second time a camera was allowed inside the courtroom. Opening statements were allowed to be recorded on November 1.
The prosecution delivered their opening argument first, with prosecutor Rick Jones addressing the jury. Jones discussed the phrase "shrinking violet" which he says is how the defense described Armstrong at the opening. He then pulled up a slide and said, 'This is who your shrinking violet really is,' with a video of Armstrong holding a gun at a firing range. After that played, Jones pulled up the Ring video with audible screams and three gunshots. He told jurors those were Wilson's last moments on this earth. Two people in the front row, where Wilson's friends and family were sitting, plugged their ears and kept their heads down when this played. Wilson's parents and brother were not sitting in the courtroom when the video played but returned shortly after.
Jones referenced Armstrong's escape attempt in October. He said she's not just running from the sheriff's office, she's running from, "you and you and you." Pointing to the jury.
Jones went over a slide in the presentation for jurors, that read, 'Murder: unanimity.' Jones said they need to be unanimous, but not unanimous on which theory of murder they use.
"Never seen so much evidence in my life," Jones says.
Jones said that the defense asked several times why witness Steven Aston didn't exclude 'every gun in the world.' Jones said no one else in the world had the DNA left at the scene, was jealous about their boyfriend being with the victim, and no one else in the world left the scene of the murder in Armstrong's Jeep 2 minutes after the murder.
Jones also touched on the testimony from Armstrong's friends. Jones reminded jurors that one called Armstrong her best friend. Jones said that one friend said, 'I've never seen her that upset before.'
Jones was critical of the way the defense responded to the evidence presented in court surrounding Armstrong's black Jeep. Jones said that cross-examination first focused on how many black Jeeps are in Austin. He then launched into how the defense's argument changed once witness Daniel Portnoy took the GPS out of Armstrong's Jeep and displayed the data. The prosecution argued that after that point, the defense switched to an argument on whether Armstrong was driving.
RELATED |New revelations in trial of cyclist's accused killer
"Whoever stole her phone and her Jeep, sent somebody a text message with her address," said Jones.
The prosecution also showed the jurors what they believed was proof Armstrong committed the murder. They listed several areas of previously discussed circumstantial evidence, but their last point was that Wilson was shot in the heart, which Jones said was personal.
Jones touched on the unknown third person in the DNA profile results. This was an area the defense focused on multiple times in the trial. Jones spoke about that detail and said, “You know what it doesn't explain? That unknown third person? Kaitlin Armstrong's DNA."
Jones called Wilson a cycling 'prodigy.' He says that Wilson's friend Caitlin Cash, goes by 'Cash' because she associates 'Caitlin' with the name of the person who killed her friend.
"I ask you to do one thing. Justice for Mo Wilson. The state has met its burden. I'm asking you to find her guilty," said Jones.
Rick Cofer led the first half of the defense's argument, stating that 'it was a privilege to represent Armstrong.' Cofer told the jurors that for over a year, Armstrong had been trapped in a nightmare of circumstantial evidence.
Cofer said this case is based on assumptions, confirmation bias, and lack of direct evidence. Early on in the argument, he referenced the phone call Armstrong made to Wilson. Cofer told jurors that it probably went something like, 'By the way, Strickland is a little bit of an a** and I live with him.'
"Is that so unreasonable," Cofer asked the jurors.
Cofer pointed to Strickland as being an unreliable narrator several times. At one point, Cofer brought up how Strickland lied to Armstrong about being with Wilson in Austin, Texas.
"He didn't lie because Kaitlin is a jealous, psycho killer. He lied because that's [how he is]," Cofer says.
Cofer said there was no doubt that Armstrong's cell phone was in the vicinity of the black Jeep but asked jurors hypothetical questions about who else had access to the Jeep or her keys. Cofer said the jurors cannot take Strickland's word, especially about Armstrong supposedly being in the Jeep.
"His recollection of every detail has become fuzzier [] except for his opinion of seeing Kaitlin in a black Jeep."
Cofer also touched on the cable lock, and gun before wrapping up his remarks for the jurors.
Cofer started to say, "If you convict Kaitlin Armstrong, and she's eventually exonerated," but the state objected, saying it's an inappropriate argument to put that kind of pressure on a jury, implying they could make a mistake.
The judge told the jury to disregard the last comment, and then Puryear took over the argument for the defense. Puryear said the jurors can't ignore the 'I don't know' of the case. Puryear went into an argument surrounding the DNA, and what it means. He said DNA is not a crystal ball or a time machine, and all it is, is an artifact. Puryear was critical of Kalafut's testimony from the day prior.
"One thing they all agree on is this. DNA means that a clump of cells was found in the exact spot they were collecting from."
Puryear briefly mentioned Armstrong's travel to Costa Rica, as well. He argued that police detectives told Armstrong she was free to go, and asked when faced with a stressful situation what the human response is: fight or flight.
Puryear told jurors not to let emotion stand in the place of reason and common sense.
After Puryear wraps, Guillermo Gonzalez with the state continued the prosecution's argument. He started his argument by seemingly poking at defense attorney Rick Cofer, by saying "but Rick" before several questions.
"But Rick, isn't Colin Strickland on video at Pool Burger when the Jeep is driving around?" Gonzalez said, "But Rick, isn't it likely that every single passenger that rode in the Jeep would likely leave DNA? But Rick, how would that be helpful?"
Gonzalez said all he's asking the jurors to do is be reasonable, use common sense, and look at the evidence.
Gonzalez asked why Armstrong was viewing Wilson's Strava and Instagram accounts. He asked why she had a note in her phone with an address off of Maple Avenue, which she deleted.
"Why? Why Rick?" Said Gonzalez.
Gonzalez asks the jurors why Armstrong ‘desperately started looking for plastic surgery’ in Costa Rica. Gonzalez said she fled with a false passport, used faked names, and changed her appearance. Gonzalez told jurors that Armstrong knew what she was doing.
"If you look at all the evidence, look at it with common sense, logic, let the evidence take you where it's going," said Gonzalez, "You're going to find that the evidence is right there." Gonzalez pointed at Armstrong. Armstrong briefly looked up at Gonzalez.
"That's the only place the evidence is going," said Gonzalez.
ncG1vNJzZmihlJa1sLrEsKpnm5%2BifK%2Bx1qxmp5mknryvedaoqaWcX5%2ByorjOrqqyZZWrtqWxzZycZpmemXqlu9Sbq2ajla56tbTEppysZZanvK55wqWmrKGenHqivsaupJ6mpKh6qrqMpJiirJyeu26t0aaqraqfo7S0ecyuqZ2domLBs7XApQ%3D%3D