Arochi Sits Stone Faced As Guilty Verdict Read
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MCKINNEY (CBSDFW.COM) – Jurors at the Collin County Court House returned with a guilty verdict in the trial of Enrique Arochi. He was found guilty of Aggravated Kidnapping, as the verdict was read Arochi sat stone faced.
Previous to the jury coming back, Christina Morris' mother commented how uneasy she was starting to feel with the jury taking so long.
Within minutes the verdict came in and a packed courtroom sat on the edge of their seats as the judge read the decision.
The Judge gave strict instructions for those in the court room. "There will be no outburst, or any, any reaction to the verdict." He asked those who could not abide by that rule to leave before the verdict was read.
Enrique Arochi's face offered no clues to those looking for his reaction to the guilty verdict.
The 26-year-old denied he had anything to do with the disappearance of Christina Morris.
As the family of Christina Morris left the courtroom they hugged and wiped away tears.
Once outside the courthouse, she raised her fist in victory after two years of seeking justice.
The only thing Jonni McElroy would say to reporters as she left was, "Can't talk I'm still under, I'm still a witness, I can't talk till Monday."
A black and white security camera video of the victim and him walking from a bar in Plano, DNA in his Camaro and cell phone signals unraveled a web of lies according to prosecutors during his two-week trial.
"Amen, is all I got to say is amen." says Graham Guthrie, one of Christina's friends.
There was no comment from the Arochi family, his uncle was the only relative in the courtroom, compared to dozens supporting the Morris family.
"We can breathe. I feel like the right thing happened," says Anna Morris, Christina's step-mom. "It's not over. It's far from over, Christina is still missing. I hope that this will possibly get us the information we need to bring her home."
Sentencing phase of the trial will begin on Monday. Arochi could receive a sentence ranging from probation to life in prison.
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