Methodist Dallas gunman Nestor Hernandez found guilty of capital murder
DALLAS (CBSNewsTexas.com) - A jury found Methodist Dallas Hospital gunman Nestor Hernandez guilty of capital murder on Nov. 9.
After several delays, Thursday's trial started with Judge Chika Anyiam giving the jury instructions on how to proceed. Jurors had the option of finding Hernandez guilty on lesser charges, but it took them about an hour to return the guilty verdict.
The 31-year-old defendant took the stand in his own defense Wednesday—the last day of testimony in his trial.
"I wasn't thinking right. I just wasn't," he said. "I didn't even see the second nurse in the hallway."
Hernandez insisted what happened inside Methodist Dallas Hospital last October was accidental and that he never intended to kill nurse Katie Flowers and social worker Jacqueline Pokuaa on the labor and delivery floor.
"My perception of the world is completely shattered. I am always on edge, scared something is going to happen to me. I miss the girl I was before. I was just a normal teenage girl who wasn't worried about someone coming to a place where I should be completely safe, taking my life," shared Katie Flowers' granddaughter.
Hernandez was seen on security video walking into the maternity ward and later into his girlfriend's room, where he claimed they argued over whether she would give their baby his last name.
He testified that they were both fighting over a gun when Pokuaa walked in on them.
"The nurse tried to stop the fight," Hernandez explained. "She got in between us and the gun went off. I was kind of confused for a little bit and she said, 'What did you do? This is your fault... this is your fault.'"
He testified that he panicked afterward and fired blindly into the hallway.
Prosecutors pointed out that the testimony contradicts physical evidence and questioned Hernandez's story that the shootings were unintentional during cross-examination.
Do you admit you killed both of them?
"Not intentionally."
You killed both these women, didn't you?
"I did but not intentionally, sir."
Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot argued for the prosecution in the case. Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty.
"At the time this crime occurred I vowed to see that justice was done, and I am satisfied to say that's what we've accomplished. I say this knowing that justice is no replacement for these two innocent lives lost nor does it repair the trauma inflicted on the staff, officers, and other families at the hospital on that tragic day, however, we have ensured that Mr. Hernandez will die in prison," said Creuzot following the verdict.
Hernandez has remained in jail since the shootings last year. Law enforcement officials will transfer him to the Texas Department of Corrections where he will spend every day of the rest of his life.