Editor's note: This story originally appeared in the April 16, 2005, edition of The Dallas Morning News.
WACO – A man was convicted and sentenced to life in prison Friday for the 2003 double shooting that blew off most of his girlfriend's face and killed her mother.
Jurors deliberated about 30 minutes before finding Terrence Dewaine Kelly guilty of murder and attempted murder. Later Friday, they deliberated about half an hour before deciding on two life sentences, one for murdering Janice Reeves and one for disfiguring Carolyn Thomas, the Waco Tribune-Herald reported. He will serve the sentences concurrently.
The verdict came the day after state District Judge George Allen threw out Mr. Kelly's defense of innocent by reason of insanity. Judge Allen said evidence did not support defense claims that Mr. Kelly was insane at the time of the shootings.
Mr. Kelly's attorney, Bill Johnston, then asked to reopen testimony to provide stronger evidence that a severe mental defect precluded Mr. Kelly from knowing his actions were wrong. Judge Allen rejected that motion.
During opening statements Wednesday, Mr. Johnston said he did not dispute that Mr. Kelly, 32, shot the women but that his client was insane at the time.
In defense testimony Thursday, Dr. Rod Ryan, the McLennan County Jail doctor for 25 years, said Mr. Kelly has been medicated for depression. He prescribed mood-stabilizing drugs last fall after Mr. Kelly reported hearing voices and feeling paranoid, but Dr. Ryan said he could not classify the behavior as a severe mental disorder.
Prosecutors contend Mr. Kelly was high on marijuana laced with formaldehyde that night and was not mentally ill. The judge instructed jurors that voluntary intoxication is not a defense.
Ms. Thomas, 34, earlier testified that Mr. Kelly abused her for years and threatened to kill her that night before the shooting that tore off her right eye, nose and upper jaw.
Two psychiatrists who examined Mr. Kelly after his arrest have said he is sane.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]