Nov 21, 2006 11:24 pm US/Pacific
Garcia Jurors Speak Out About Guilty Verdict
by Serene Branson
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
Without a body, prosecutors knew the Mario Garcia case would be tough. It was the first homicide case for Placer County without one.
Prosecutors said all along they worried of what's been called the CSI effect, where jurors expect high tech water tight evidence. The ten men and 2 women on the jury took only two days to deliberate inside the Sacramento County courthouse. They said two pieces sealed the deal.
No body, no murder weapon - not an issue for jurors. Most said they were on the same page when they began deliberating Friday.
"I think we all came into the deliberation room feeling the defendant was guilty of killing Christie Wilson," says one juror.
They said it was only a matter of to what degree. They took their time, going over every ounce of evidence and testimony.
"We did it seriously and we came to the correct decision," says another juror.
Guilty on all counts, but what made the case in these jurors' minds? A solid presentation by the DA's office was critical. But it was the blood, and in turn Wilson's DNA on Garcia's car, along with the scratches Garcia had on his face. To them it was proof Christie tried to fight him off.
Garcia took the stand in his own defense, to the jurors that took away his credibility.
Several of the jurors consoled and spoke with Wilson's' family. Tuesday was the day they'd all been waiting for.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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