McNair guilty in ‘Mexican Jerry’ murder trial

Thomas McNair was found guilty Friday in the murder of Gerardo Luna, also known as “Mexican Jerry,” in Judge William Moody’s courtroom.

It took the jury took around 3 hours to reach a verdict. It also found McNair guilty of tampering with evidence after burning the remains of Luna’s body.

Both McNair and family members sitting in the courtroom showed almost no emotion when the verdict was read by the judge. McNair only shook his head when he sat down.

“I don’t think you’ll find justice here. I think you’ll find closure for my family,” said Mario Favela, the victim’s older brother. “That’s what it’s going to be – closure – when it’s over.”

The jury decided to continue the trial until a the sentencing phase was complete.

“I won’t ask you to sympathize with my client,” said McNair’s defense attorney as he addressed the jury after sentencing. “Sympathy should be given to the victim’s family. I do ask you consider rehabilitation.”

Prosecutors argued the murder was “exceedingly cruel” and asked the jury, “Why should he get less than life when a life was taken? McNair is very dangerous and will stay very dangerous.”

McNair was sentenced to 99 years for murder and 20 years for tampering with evidence.

McNair and four others are accused of killing Gerardo Luna back in 2014. Luna was also known as “Mexican Jerry”.

Luna’s body was found in the basement of an abandoned building downtown located at 101 Mesa in September of 2014.

The past few days, the trial has centered around a taped interview between McNair and El Paso Police detectives. In the interview, McNair admitted to taking part in the murder of Luna.

The jury watched the entire taped interview Thursday, in which McNair admits to killing Jerry because one of the other suspects wanted to.

“I saw the look in his eyes and he begged me not to kill him. Then I hit him in the head with the pipe a few times”, McNair said in the interview.

He went on to say he “had to slice his throat…I didn’t have a choice.” He also stated that he doesn’t “feel sorry for what happened” because he doesn’t “have a conscious.”

Initially, McNair took responsibility for the murder, but during the interview, McNair changed his story. He later said the murder was actually planned by Brittney Stewart, who is also accused of Luna’s murder.