After a two-week trial in Austin, Texas, jurors deliberated for 2 hours earlier than handing down a responsible verdict in opposition to Kaitlin Armstrong for the homicide of bike owner Moriah “Mo” Wilson, native information reported.
Wilson, an rising expertise in gravel using, was discovered lifeless in an Austin house in Could 2022 from three gunshot wounds. Prosecutors argued that Armstrong had killed Wilson in an alleged love triangle together with professional bike owner Colin Strickland, who additionally testified in the course of the trial.
Protection attorneys, nevertheless, stated that Armstrong was merely caught up in a “nightmare” of circumstantial proof.
Within the aftermath of the capturing, Armstrong traveled to Costa Rica, the place she was apprehended by authorities 5 weeks later. She additionally tried to flee custody shortly earlier than the trial.
On Thursday, a jury discovered Armstrong responsible of second-degree homicide. Armstrong faces as much as 99 years in jail, and her sentence will possible be issued on Friday.
Trial Replace: Detective Says Armstrong Had Images of Wilson on iPhone Earlier than Homicide
Wednesday, November 15 — The trial of Kaitlin Armstrong for the homicide of Moriah “Mo” Wilson continued this week with further proof from prosecutors, who allege that Armstrong had deliberate to kill the promising younger bike owner.
On Monday, the trial’s seventh day, Detective Daniel Portnoy of the Austin Police Division’s digital forensic unit took the stand to testify. After analyzing Armstrong’s iPhone 13, Portnoy discovered a number of pictures of Wilson within the cellphone’s cache, The Unbiased reported.
In his testimony, Detective Portnoy clarified that info saved within the cache just isn’t essentially deliberately saved by the cellphone consumer, usually being saved routinely. Prosecutors declare Armstrong had been monitoring Wilson earlier than the bike owner was discovered lifeless from three gunshot wounds in an Austin house in Could 2022.
Based on the Austin American-Statesman, Portnoy additionally stated that Armstrong’s cellphone was turned off simply hours earlier than Wilson was killed the evening of Could 11.
The household of Wilson left the courtroom on Tuesday throughout testimony from the medical expert about Wilson’s deadly gunshot wounds. Dr. Bernadette Derussy, the deputy medical expert for Travis County, famous three wounds: one to the precise aspect of Wilson’s face, one other to the precise temporal scalp, and a 3rd to the left aspect of the chest.
Firearm forensic scientist Steven Aston additionally testified this week. Aston had processed the projectiles discovered by the Austin Police Division on the evening Wilson died. Throughout his testimony, Aston stated the projectiles discovered on the scene the place Wilson was killed got here from the Sig Sauer 9mm owned by Armstrong, Information Nation reported.
Mo Wilson Homicide Trial Testimony: ‘I Would Kill Her’
Thursday, November 9 — Kaitlin Armstrong allegedly stated she would kill Mo Wilson for relationship ex-boyfriend {and professional} bike owner Colin Strickland, based on testimony this week.
Two witnesses referred to as by prosecutors associated tales about Armstrong’s anger towards Wilson earlier than the bike owner was discovered murdered in an East Austin house in Could 2022, based on native information studies. Nicole Mertz, a buddy of the defendant, stated she met Armstrong in a restaurant in November 2021 when Wilson walked in, inflicting Armstrong to grow to be “visibly indignant,” the Austin American-Statesman reported.
Mertz then requested Armstrong what she would do if Strickland began relationship another person. “I might kill her,” Armstrong stated, based on Mertz’ testimony.
Jacqueline Chasteen, a buddy of Strickland’s, additionally testified that Armstrong expressed “in so many phrases” that she wished to kill Wilson, News4 San Antonio reported.
The trial over Mo Wilson’s homicide began Monday, October 30, and was initially anticipated to final two weeks. Nevertheless, the trial could last more, as prosecutors have a witness checklist practically 10 pages lengthy, based on KXAN. Along with the above testimony, prosecutors have additionally offered different proof in opposition to Armstrong.
On Wednesday, the case’s lead investigator stated that police had discovered DNA from Armstrong on Wilson’s bike, which was discovered close to the homicide scene, KXAN reported. Investigators additionally revealed this week that Armstrong had offered her Jeep to CarMax for $12,200 on Could 13 — two days after Wilson was discovered murdered from three gunshot wounds, based on the Austin American-Statesman.
Keep tuned for extra updates because the trial progresses.
Mo Wilson Homicide Trial: Prosecutors Say Kaitlin Armstrong Used Strava to Observe Sufferer
Monday, November 6 — For thousands and thousands of cyclists, hikers, and runners, the Strava app permits them to simply observe and share their routes with family and friends.
However for Kaitlin Armstrong, it was a method to discover and kill Moriah “Mo” Wilson, prosecutors alleged final week throughout Armstrong’s ongoing homicide trial in Austin, Texas. Based on opening statements, Armstrong could have found Wilson’s location by checking Strava, the place Wilson had posted knowledge a couple of bike trip on the day of her homicide.
Wilson was shot and killed on Could 11, 2022, whereas staying on the home of a buddy in East Austin. Prosecutor Rickey Jones used audio from safety cameras within the house complicated to color a disturbing image of what could have occurred on the evening Wilson was murdered.
The cameras recorded audible screams from Wilson, adopted by two gunshots, Jones stated. “These screams are adopted by ‘Pop! Pop!’” he stated. “You received’t hear any extra screams after that.”
Then there’s 45 seconds of silence, adopted by the sound of a 3rd gunshot, he stated. “After that 45 seconds of silence, Kaitlin Armstrong stood over Mo Wilson and put a 3rd shot proper in Mo Wilson’s coronary heart,” Jones alleged.
Each Armstrong and Wilson had been romantically concerned with skilled bike owner Colin Strickland, based on court docket paperwork. Prosecutors declare that Armstrong killed Wilson out of jealousy. Final Wednesday, prosecutors stated that Armstrong was residing with Strickland on the time of the homicide and monitored his e-mail and social media accounts, prosecutors stated.
Armstrong’s protection attorneys, nevertheless, argued that the case in opposition to her lacks adequate proof or witnesses. Their consumer is trapped in a “nightmare” of circumstantial proof, protection legal professional Geoffrey Puryear stated. No safety cameras confirmed Armstrong close to the scene of the crime.
“You didn’t hear about any direct proof exhibiting Kaitlin Armstrong is accountable for this crime,” Puryear stated. “Not one witness noticed Kaitlin Armstrong allegedly commit this homicide. Not one.”
Armstrong’s trial will proceed this week. Along with a second-degree homicide cost, she may face further prices for trying to flee police custody shortly earlier than the trial, NBC Information reported.
The trial, which began final Monday, is anticipated to final 2 weeks.
Homicide Trial of Professional Bicycle owner Mo Wilson Begins Immediately: What You Must Know
Monday, October 30 — The trial for the homicide of Mo Wilson begins at present — 2 weeks after accused killer Kaitlin Armstrong tried to flee custody.
Since Wilson was discovered shot to dying in an Austin residence in Could 2022, the case has drawn nationwide and worldwide consideration. The investigation led authorities to Armstrong, a 36-year-old actual property agent suspected of killing Wilson over a attainable love triangle.
Armstrong has twice tried to flee authorities. It took a 43-day worldwide hunt to convey her again to the U.S. after Armstrong fled to Costa Rica final June. Earlier this month, she broke free from corrections officers in a chase that lasted a couple of mile earlier than she was recaptured, based on CNN.
Now, Armstrong will lastly come to trial, the place she faces as much as 99 years in jail if convicted on the first-degree homicide cost. Armstrong has pled not responsible.
Keep tuned for GearJunkie trial updates all through the week.
When Wilson was discovered lifeless from three gunshots on Could 11 of final yr, it shocked the worldwide biking group. The 25-year-old bike owner was seen as a rising star within the sport and a possible contender for the Olympics.
Data launched by investigators has resulted in a “carnival-like media storm,” stated a movement filed by Armstrong’s attorneys, based on the Austin American-Statesman.
Courtroom paperwork counsel it solely took just a few days after Wilson’s homicide for police to establish Armstrong because the chief suspect. The yoga teacher and actual property agent had been relationship professional bike owner Colin Strickland, 36, who had briefly dated Wilson prior to now. However Wilson and Strickland additionally spent the night collectively earlier than her dying, and investigators suspect that Armstrong killed Wilson out of jealousy.
Investigators collected a number of important items of proof, based on the arrest affidavit. Safety cam footage from the evening of the homicide reveals a automobile matching the outline of Armstrong’s Jeep Cherokee driving previous the home the place Wilson’s physique was discovered. An nameless caller informed police that Armstrong stated she wished to kill Wilson, and Strickland informed authorities that he had purchased a gun for Armstrong in January 2022.
Ballistics assessments carried out on Armstrong’s Sig Sauer P365 9mm confirmed “the potential that the identical firearm was concerned is critical,” court docket paperwork stated.
Monday’s trial will start with jury choice, in addition to opening and shutting statements from protection attorneys and prosecutors.
GearJunkie will replace this text because the high-profile trial in Austin progresses.
This story initially appeared on Gearjunkie
