Gobert’s criminal past revealed during punishment phase
By Steven Kreytak | Austin American Statesman Wednesday, March 3, 2010, 11:11 AM
The punishment phase of Milton Dwayne Gobert’s capital murder trial began this morning with prosecutor Allison Wetzel telling the jury that Gobert deserves the death penalty.
“During the guilty/innocence phase, the focus is on the crime,” Wetzel said. “The focus is now on the criminal.”
For the first time, Wetzel told the jury about Gobert’s criminal history, including that he had spent about nine years in prison for burglary and robbery before he fatally stabbed Mel Kernena Cotton, 30, in her North Austin apartment in October 2003. Cotton’s then 5-year-old son was also stabbed in the attack but survived and testified last week. Gobert was convicted of capital murder Tuesday.
Wetzel also told the jury that Gobert’s ex-girlfriend, Christina Pocharasang, had accused Gobert of brutally beating her in the month before the attack on Cotton.
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