Kaitlin Armstrong sentenced to 90 years for murder of cyclist Mo Wilson - Updates
Jurors returned guilty verdict against Kaitlin Armstrong on Thursday for shooting death of star cyclist Moriah ‘Mo’ Wilson
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Your support makes all the difference.Kaitlin Armstrong has been sentenced to 90 years in prison for the murder of her alleged love rival Moriah “Mo” Wilson.
A jury returned the sentencing verdict after around three and a half hours of deliberation on Thursday in Austin, Texas. Armstrong will also be required to pay a fine of $10,000.
The two women were reportedly involved in a love triangle with Ms Armstrong’s then on-and-off boyfriend and Wilson’s fellow cyclist Colin Strickland.
In the aftermath of the May 2022 shooting, Ms Armstrong fled to Costa Rica and was only captured five weeks later.
The state rested its case on Wednesday morning after introducing testimony from Mr Strickland, friends of Ms Armstrong, and law enforcement personnel. The defence called experts who sought to discredit the state’s DNA and ballistics evidence.
During closing arguments, prosecutors pointed out what they suggested was overwhelming evidence linking Ms Armstrong to the crime, and asked jurors to ignore the “rabbit holes” the defence had asked them to go down.
Meanwhile, Ms Armstrong’s attorneys accused police of a sloppy investigation that too quickly focused on her as the sole suspect.
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A star cyclist was murdered. Now her love rival Kaitlin Armstrong is on trial
Did a police error aid Kaitlin Armstrong’s escape after Moriah Wilson murder?
Love rival murder, a harrowing 911 call and bike DNA: Key revelations in the Kaitlin Armstrong trial
Defence tells jurors ‘not knowing is not a failure'
Mr Puryear resumed his argument reminding jurors that they don’t have to believe Ms Armstrong is innocent in order to deliver a not guilty verdict.
The jury is told that they are compelled to deliver a not guilty verdict if they are not completely sure Ms Armstrong is guilty.
“Don’t feel like you failed, if that is your conclusion,”
State gives rebuttal
State attorney Guillermo Gonzalez delivers a monologue about all the what-ifs the defence just laid out. Mr Gonzalez says that those hypothetical scenarios are not relevant to the case and that the evidence presented by the prosecution remains strong.
The defence objects and an argument unfolds but the judge allows Mr Gonzalez to continue.
“Take your time, and I trust that when you do that, the evidence points you in one direction,” he said.
Not likely defence’s DNA transfer theory took place, state says
Mr Gonzalez reminds jurors that DNA experts who took the stand said a four-time DNA transfer, how the prosecution argues Ms Arsmtrong’s DNA ended on the bike, is extremely unlikely.
State wraps up rebuttal
“If you do, if you look at all the evidence, look at it with common sense, logic. Let the evidence take you where it’s going. That’s all I’m asking. You are going to find that the evidence is right here,” Mr Gonzalez says.
Deliberations begin
Ms Arsmtrong has left the courtroom after the jury was instructed to begin deliberations.
WATCH: Prosecution presents closing arguments after cyclists murder
Kaitlin Armstrong before and after
Just days after the murder, Ms Armstrong fled the country and travelled to Costa Rica, where she was arrested five weeks later.
During her time in Costa Rica, Ms Armstrong underwent several procedures, including a rhinoplasty, according to evidence introduced in court.
Kaitlin Armstrong found guilty after two hours of deliberation
A jury found Armstrong guilty of murder after just two hours of deliberation on Thursday.
Read more:
Wilson’s family becomes emotional over guilty verdict
The family of slain cyclist Anna Moriah Wilson have been in the courtroom for the two and a half weeks of trial, only leaving the gallery whenever graphic evidence was introduced.
Upon hearing the verdict, Wilson’s parents, brother and friend Caitliin Cash hugged each other and became tearful, NewsNation correspondent Alex Caprariello reports.