Carsner Murder Trial: ‘I Was Afraid’

The woman on trial in the shooting deaths of her mother and stepfather returned to the witness stand to testify in her own defense Thursday.

Laura Grisel Carsner, 48, a chiropractor and 1982 graduate of Irvin High School, is accused of shooting and killing Irma Quiroz, 68, and Alejandro Quiroz, 66, in the back yard of their Northeast El Paso home Aug, 29, 2009. If convicted, Carsner faces life in prison without parole.

During direct examination, Defense Attorney Joe Spencer questioned Carsner about what happened on the day of the shootings. In tears and sometimes crying uncontrollably, Carsner described the events leading up to the shooting, including how she picked up a gun she had ordered from a gun shop in Las Cruces.

Carsner said she bought the gun, “for protection,” because there had been a lot of rapes in the Austin neighborhood she was living in. During cross examination, Carsner said she would go target shooting in the desert.

Spencer asked Carsner if she bought the gun with the intention of killing her mother and stepfather.

“No, absolutely not,” Carsner said.

Carsner then said she intended to drive to Ruidoso to get some fresh air after losing custody of her daughter to her parents the day before, but instead instead she ended up at her parents’ home.

Spence then asked if Carsner was trying to kill her mother and stepfather.

“No. They might have did what the did, but I didn’t hate them,” Carsner said, crying. “I was afraid. They rushed me. What are they going to do? I was going to go to police.”

During cross examination by the prosecution, Carsner was combative at times,

Assistant District Attorney Denise Butterworth argued that there were inconsistencies in her testimony.