Man gets 69 years, but disputes facts in girlfriend’s death
Posted On: Thursday, Feb. 9 2012 10:47 PM
By Philip Jankowski
Killeen Daily Herald
BELTON — During a sentencing hearing Thursday, Kevin Clavon Wright took the stand and almost immediately began to dispute his statements to police, his guilty plea and a signed confession that he killed his girlfriend two years ago.
Although Wright, 32, pleaded guilty to murder in early December, he refused to accept responsibility for the death of 22-year-old Deverelle "Gabby" Johnson in what turned into an unusually long and confusing sentencing hearing.
Defense attorney Michael White asked Wright to tell his side of the story, noting that he had been prepared for trial with an accidental shooting defense on Dec. 6. A jury had been selected, but Wright decided to plead guilty before the trial started that day.
During Thursday's testimony to mitigate his sentence, Wright became combative and refused to answer questions from White and the prosecution.
At the end of the four-hour hearing, 27th District Court Judge Joe Carroll sentenced Wright to 69 years for the Feb. 11, 2010, death of Johnson.
Read the entire article HERE.
