Daughter Testifies In Carsner Murder Trial

The woman on trial in the shooting deaths of her mother and stepfather burst into tears when her daughter was called to the witness stand Friday morning in the 171st District Court.

Laura Grisel Carsner, who is accused of shooting and killing Irma Quiroz, 68, and Alejandro Quiroz, 66, in the back yard of their Northeast El Paso home in August 2009, sobbed loudly as her 10-year-old daughter walked into the courtroom.

The young girl testified that she wants to be a lawyer when she grows up, at which point Carsner yelled out, “Oh, God,” and slammed her hand on table.

Carsner’s daughter was swimming in the back yard of her grandparents’ home the day of the shootings. Her cousin, Alex Quiroz, testified earlier in the week that he rushed her into the house moments before the shootings took place.

Alex Quiroz said Carsner walked into the back yard through the gate with her hands behind her back.

“I was scared,” Carsner’s daughter said. “I knew something bad was gonna happen. She (Carsner) had an evil grin on her face.”

Carsner’s daughter also testified that Carsner would hit her.

“Sometimes, she hits me with a shoe or fly swatter,” Carsner’s daughter said.

After Carsner’s daughter testified, the defense called up Dr. James Schutte to the witness stand.

Schutte said Carsner had a long history of mental illness and alcoholism long before the killings. He said Carsner’s mental state is consistent with sexual abuse victims he has evaluated.

The defense attorney placed his hand on Carsner’s back as she quietly cried in response to hearing the doctor’s testimony.

Prosecutors then asked, “(Carsner) understood the difference between right and wrong at the time of the incident, correct?”

“That is correct,” Schutte said.

Both sides rested their case Friday. Closing arguments will begin at 8 a.m. Monday.