SAN ANTONIO – Two families left the 186th District courtroom Wednesday night in tears. Both have lost a loved one.
Kerry O'Toole, 53, was murdered in his home in 2015. Richard Amezquita, 35, pulled the trigger and will now go to prison for 60 years.
Amezquita was very stoic as the judge read the jury's verdict. He faced up to life in prison.
When the judge asked him if there was any legal reason he should not be sentenced Wednesday, he said, "No your honor."
Amezquita, a door-to-door security systems salesman, was found guilty on Monday for murdering prospective customer Kerry O'Toole in November 2015.
The defense claimed O'Toole attacked Amezquita, so he shot him in self-defense. The jury disagreed.
After the jury left, O'Toole's family members were able to address Amezquita, and with that came some heavy emotion.
"You took him away from me. And the moment you shot him, I felt him right in my heart. God bless your family. I know they're hurting," O'Toole's wife said.
"I do pray you will come to terms and accept that Kerry was the victim and not you. And I also pray for the strength and the courage to forgive you," O'Toole's daughter said.
As officers walked Amezquita out of the courtroom in handcuffs, he looked over at his family, who filled half the seats in the room. Many were crying.
Amezquita is getting credit for time served. His attorney said it is likely there will be an appeal, but he still needs to confirm that with his client.
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