2 sides rest in killer's trial
Web Posted: 03/03/2010 12:00 CST
By Craig Kapitan - San Antonio Express-News
VICTORIA — By the time Joe Estrada Jr. fatally shot his 76-year-old neighbor in the head with an arrow, he had already burglarized her home once before but was disappointed with the loot, one of the final witnesses in his capital murder trial said Tuesday.
Closing arguments for the punishment phase — which will either end in life without parole or the death penalty — are expected today. Both sides rested their cases Tuesday afternoon.
“He had heard through his mom that (neighbor Viola Barrios) owned a restaurant and had money or was affluent,” said Timothy Proctor, a Dallas-based psychologist hired by prosecutors. “He said he was stressed about needing money for an abortion, and he owed what he thought was $1,000” for traffic tickets.
Estrada said the first burglary occurred without incident, said Proctor, who conducted a then-confidential interview with the defendant at the Victoria County Jail on Feb. 16 two days before the jury found him guilty of capital murder in Barrios' slaying. Estrada said he returned to his bedroom with about $250.
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