NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – After more than nine hours of deliberation spread over two days, a Comal County jury found a 16-year-old Canyon High School student guilty of assault in the death of his classmate Logan Davidson.
Prosecutors asked the jury to find the teen, who is not being publicly identified because he is a minor, guilty of murder or manslaughter.
The teen on trial punched Davidson, 16, in the head twice as he exited a chemistry classroom in November 2013, prosecutors said.
Davidson died from massive brain injuries. A video recorded by another student showed Davidson's head slamming into a concrete hallway wall following the second punch.
Following the verdict, the lawyer for the defendant said the jury worked hard and arrived at a just verdict.
"I think they feel like justice has been done," defense attorney Joe Garcia said. "Although some of them indicated that they might have been able to walk away with nothing had it only been the murder and manslaughter charges."
Garcia asked that assault be added to the jury charge prior to closing arguments two weeks ago.
Judge Charles Stevens agreed but the Comal County district attorney objected and filed an appeal with the Court of Criminal Appeals in Austin.
The appeals court agreed with the judge and the charge was included when closing arguments began on Monday.
Disposition, or punishment, will be determined by Stevens during a hearing on July 2. Assault is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in county jail.