Former fugitive Caitlin Armstrong was sentenced to 90 years in jail Friday for the jealousy-driven killing {of professional} biker Moriah “Mo” Wilson.
The identical Travis County panel that discovered Armstrong responsible of first-degree homicide on Thursday deliberated for an additional three-and-a-half hours on Friday earlier than recommending a jail sentence, which Decide Brenda Kennedy accepted.
Armstrong, 35, was going through between 5 and 99 years behind bars for the homicide, which occurred on Could 11, 2022. Prosecutors had requested for at least 40 years in jail.
Armstrong might have left the ruling totally within the arms of Justice Kennedy.
As a substitute, jurors selected to make a sentencing advice, prompting her to testify within the penalty section on Thursday shortly after the decision was learn.
Armstrong’s father, sister, and non secular advisor testified to the character of the perpetrator.
Protection legal professional Rick Cofer instructed jurors Friday that the “punishment is way much less clear” than a discovering of guilt 24 hours earlier.
“Two households are devastated and grieving in very other ways. Kaitlyn has no prior legal historical past,” Cofer mentioned.
Wilson’s family members instructed the courtroom of the extreme grief they’ve skilled because the 25-year-old mountain biker was shot useless by Armstrong, who considered her as a romantic rival.
“She (Armstrong) put everybody in peril,” Travis County Assistant Prosecutor Ricky Jones instructed jurors Friday. It was egocentric. Fully egocentric. give it some thought.”
The prosecutor requested panelists to “mirror on these 16 months” that Wilson’s family members have endured because the athlete’s homicide.
The sufferer had come to Austin in Could 2022 to take part in a race in Hico, southwest of Fort Value.
Whereas on the town, he was Armstrong’s good friend {and professional} Cyclist Colin Strickland — who had a quick relationship with Wilson in fall 2021 — texted her to fulfill up.
Hours earlier than she was killed, Wilson swam with Strickland at an area pool and had dinner collectively, prosecutors mentioned. A police affidavit mentioned Strickland lied to Armstrong about his whereabouts that night.
Strickland and Armstrong lived collectively so she had entry to his messages on a laptop computer at their dwelling, in keeping with prosecutors.
Armstrong then tracked Wilson’s actions on the train app Strava and mobile phone and GPS information positioned the attacker close to the crime scene.
Investigators mentioned that after killing Wilson, Armstrong fled to Costa Rica, underwent a nostril job, modified her coiffure and coloration, and tried to ascertain a brand new life as a yoga teacher earlier than she was arrested.
“This was not a brief measure, she was a considering one that had time to calculate and mirror on what she was about to do,” ADA Guillermo Gonzalez instructed jurors Friday. “It is all due to her, due to her actions.” “.
This can be a creating story. . Please verify again for updates
Austin’s Rebecca Glaser and David Ok. Lee is from New York Metropolis.
