Barcena’s Wife & Former EPPD Partner Sob As Decision Read
EL PASO, TX. – Upon hearing the guilty verdict against Theodore Berry, Officer Barcena’s wife began to sob quietly as did Barcena’s former partner.
A Sun City jury took a little over 12 hours over two days to find cop killer Theodore Berry guilty in the shooting death of Rookie EPPD Officer Angel Andrew Barcena. Other family members consoled each other in the moments after the much-anticipated verdict was read.
As a result of the capital murder charge, Prosecutors got their wish, as Mr. Berry could now get the death penalty.
Closing arguments in the case wrapped up Tuesday afternoon. Jury deliberation started shortly thereafter and lasted until 8pm. Jurors returned early Wednesday morning and had made their decision by 11:15.
The two week court case centered around the September 2004 shooting death of Officer Barcena, who responded to a domestic violence call at Berry’s residence. Berry’s defense maintained that he thought Officer Barcena was an intruder trying to break into his home.
On the final day of the trial, a packed courtroom heard closing arguments that were certainly the climax of the trial. The defense outlined two major points in closing arguments today: one – they reminded jurors how throughout the investigation, police either tampered with or destroyed evidence.
Secondly, the defense also alleged to the jurors that the police were dishonest, specifically with Mr. Berry’s confession.
The defense stated in the hushed courtroom, “They’re the thin blue line in society…that thin blue line that protects us, that responds to calls in danger, that saves people’s lives…[but] you know there’s another part of that thin blue line…the part of the thin blue line that closes ranks, yes, the part of the thin blue line that intentionally, intentionally doesn’t seek the truth.”
The prosecution countered the defense’s argument by telling jurors to look at the evidence. Specifically the 911 tapes and Mr. Berry’s confession wherein he admits to knowingly killing a police officer.
