The man is accused with killing 18 over women in Dallas area over two-year the gap was found guilty of murder Thursday and sentenced to life in prison in prison in one of cases against him after a previous mistrial.
Jury took about 45 minutes to condemn 49-year-old Billy Chemirmir, of capital murder in strangulation in March 2018 of 81-year-Old Lou Thi Harris. Prosecutors said that after Chemirmir and Harris were at the same Walmart, he went to her. home killed her and stole her jewelry.
It was Shemirmir. second trial in her deathafter first jurors hear case deadlocked in November.
The prosecutor’s office did not look for death penalty, so State District Judge Raquel “Rocky” Jones immediately sentenced Chemirmir to life in prison. in prison without the right to parole.
Chemirmir, who claimed he was innocent charged with capital murder in of death of 12 others women in Dallas County and Five in neighboring Collin County. Dallas County District Attorney John Crusoe said. plans try Chemirmir for at least one more death.
Native of those he accuses of killing praised Thursday’s verdict in an emotional news conference.
“This one condemnation represents justice for all of family,” said Shannon Dion, whose 92-year-old year-old mother, Doris Gleason, was killed in 2016.
Defense attorney Cobby Warren said during the closing debate that prosecutors has not proven beyond reasonable doubt that Chemirmir was ever in the Harris home. home, calling the state’s case “all bark, don’t bite.” As in in first court, defense not call no witnesses and Chemirmir did not testify.
Prosecutor Glen Fitzmartin told jurors he gave them more than enough evidence to convict.
“It’s an easy decision mainly because we’ve bitten so much offFitzmartin said. who noted that when Chemirmir was arrested, he had Harris’ jewelry and keys to her. home.
Jury also I saw video from surveillance cameras of Harris and Chemirmir in the same Walmart on the day she was found dead.
Although Shemirmir was only judged this week in Harris death, prosecutors also presented evidence to the jury attack what 91-year-old Mary Ennis Barthel survived the day before Harris was killed and killing of 87-year- old Mary Brooks o six weeks earlier.
Chemirmir was arrested the next day after Bartel said the man had forced him way to her apartment and held a pillow over her face.
Fitzmartin told police afterwards found that a few days earlier there was a message of suspicious person living alone community where she lived. The license plate led the officers to Chemirmir.
Police detectives testified that they went to Chemirmir’s neighboring residential complex and watched him drive into the parking lot. The detectives said he quit items in the dumpster and then how they out of his vehicle he kept the jewels and cash in his hand.
The police said that the large red ornaments box in the trash can contained documents that led them to Harris’s house. home. They are found her dead in her bedroom, lipstick smeared on her pillow.
Number of people Chemirmir was accused of killing increased as authorities reinvestigated deaths previously thought to be natural. Majority of in people we found dead in their apartments in independent residential communities for older people where Chemirmir is accused of forcing him way into apartments or posing as a handyman. Some lived in private homes including Harris and the widow of the person whom Chemirmir cared about for in his job as home guardian.
MJ Jennings, whose 83-year-old mother Leah Corken, was killed in 2016, said she hoped the verdict would be “the most first step of recovery for all of these families.”
Barthel died in 2020, but jurors heard recorded testimony of she describes opening her door on the day she was attacked. She said she immediately focused on green rubber gloves the man was wearing and tried to push the door shut but was defeated.
“He said, ‘Don’t fight i lie on bed,” said Barthel. She said the assailant “slammed” her with a pillow. face and used “all his weight to keep me from breathing”.
She said she couldn’t remember details about the man’s appearance.
Barthel, who passed out, later discovered that her wedding ring, diamond engagement ring and other jewelry were missing.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Chemirmir listed jewelry belonging to Barthel and Brooks. for sale online.
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