A jury in Pima County, Ariz., deliberated for four hours over two days before deciding that Shawna Forde, 43, should pay the ultimate penalty, the Arizona Daily Star reported. She joins two other women on Arizona's death row.
Forde was convicted Feb. 14 of first-degree murder in the May 30, 2009, deaths of Raul "Junior" Flores, 29, and his daughter, Brisenia Flores, 9. She was also found guilty of attempted murder in the shooting of Gina Gonzalez, Flores' wife and Brisenia's mother. Two men are also charged in the case and face trial later. If convicted, they too could face the death penalty.
During the trial, Gonzalez testified that two men and a woman claiming to be law enforcement officers forced their way into her family's home in the early morning hours. She said one man shot her husband several times and then, when 9-year-old Brisenia begged for her life, he shot the little girl twice. Gonzalez herself was wounded but survived.
Defense lawyers had argued that there was no proof that Forde was the woman who entered the home. In the sentencing phase, they sought mercy for their client, arguing that she had been sexually abused as a child and had suffered a stroke that left her judgment impaired.
Jason Bush, who prosecutors believe was been the shooter, is scheduled to go on trial March 15. Another defendant, Albert Gaxiola, faces trial June 1.
Forde was also found guilty of six other burglary and assault charges. She will be sentenced April 25 on those counts.more at source
Thank you Jason
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