El Paso jury finds Lisbeth Garrett guilty in 1977 murder of husband
Update: An El Paso jury has found Lisbeth Garrett guilty Wednesday of murdering her husband in 1977. Garrett barely reacted as the verdict was read, briefly pausing from otherwise taking notes continuously. She now faces 5 to 99 years or life in prison, but is eligible for probation as well.
Lisbeth’s youngest son Patrick Garrett, who testified for the prosecution, celebrated the verdict in the audience. But he was quickly surprised then angered as Judge Marcos Lizarraga set a new bond of $500,000 after revoking Garrett’s previous bond of $120,000. Defense attorney Richard Esper argued Garrett’s age and the fact that she’s never left the jurisdiction of El Paso County should let her stay free.
Garrett was out free Wednesday night after posting bail.
After the trial recessed, neither the prosecution nor defense said they could comment, as the trial is ongoing. The sentencing phase will continue Thursday morning at 10 am.
Original Story: Closing arguments ended Wednseday morning in the murder trial of Lisbeth Garrett.
The jury will begin deliberating the case after lunch.
Garrett, now 76, is accused of murdering her husband Army Major Chester Garrett back in 1977.
In closing, the prosecution argued that the timeline Lisbeth gave investigators did not match the timeline given by witnesses. “(Lisbeth and her son Roger Garrett) were the last people to see Chester alive,” prosecutors said. “It is not a coincidence.”
Prosecutors also focused on a large blood stain on the sheet rock that Lisbeth’s other son Patrick Garrett cleaned in the days after, and said “That is not caused by a nosebleed. You can use your common sense.”
In their closing, the defense called the state’s evidence “drops of slop,” adding “there is no evidence that this 5-foot-tall woman bashed Chester with a baseball bat. There is no evidence that she stabbed Chester. And I say that with confidence.”
Roger, the victim’s stepson, is already serving a 40 year prison sentence for his role in the killing.
