[my_adsense_shortcode_1]
A jury discovered Robert Solis, 50, guilty on Monday after about half-hour of deliberations.
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — The man who killed a Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputy was found guilty of capital murder on Monday in entrance of a packed courthouse full of regulation enforcement personnel, together with Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, members of the Sikh group in addition to Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal’s members of the family.
The jury took lower than half-hour to return the decision. The sentencing section of the trial is now underway.
Robert Solis, 50, killed Dhaliwal throughout a visitors cease in 2019.
Solis selected to characterize himself after firing his attorneys originally of the trial. Late final week, Solis tried to have the choose in his case eliminated.
RELATED: Man accused of killing Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal attempting to take away choose from the case
“I stand before you an innocent man,” Solis stated in his opening assertion. “I believe I’ll be able to show I had no intention of killing this man.”
On Monday, Solis took the stand and admitted that he shot Dhaliwal.
“I shot him,” Solis stated.
He went on to elucidate what he remembers, though he admitted that some of it was a “blur.”
RELATED: Man charged with killing Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal is representing himself in capital murder trial
Prosecutors stated Solis informed them that he ran as much as Dhaliwal, shoved him in opposition to his automotive and shot him within the head. He admitted to giving the deputy a false title when he was pulled over. A passenger testified that Solis stated, “I am not going back to jail,” earlier than he killed Dhaliwal.
“Yeah, I lied. I wasn’t 100% truthful. I had a warrant for my arrest. But that’s not a reason to jump out of the car and cold-bloodily kill someone,” Solis stated.
He additionally stated he threw the gun in a trash can so he “wouldn’t have a weapon” on him.
Before his guilty verdict was introduced, Solis requested Judge Chris Morton to think about lesser offenses reminiscent of criminally negligent murder and manslaughter.
RELATED: Could Deputy Dhaliwal’s murder have been prevented?
Just earlier than closing arguments, Solis additionally requested to withdraw himself from the case and requested for an appointed council once more.
“We already had a hearing on this where you waived your right. I believe this request is to delay and disrupt the proceedings. Request denied at this time. I’ll reconsider if it becomes pertinent based on the jury’s verdict,” Morton stated.
During closing arguments, Solis took accountability for the crime.
“It was not my intention that day to have that interaction at all with that man,” he stated.
He pleaded with the jury earlier than they made their determination.
“These people are trying to kill me,” Solis said. “I’m putting my life in your hands. That’s why I’m standing here now.”
RELATED: HCSO Deputy Sandeep Dhaliwal remembered on one-year anniversary of his demise
The prosecution painted Solis as a killer throughout closing arguments.
“That man determined to kill Deputy Dhaliwal as a result of he was not going again to jail. It’s so simple as that,” a co-prosecutor stated.
During the trial, Solis was admonished a number of occasions for failing to observe authorized procedures.
“I cannot allow you to have special privileges merely because you represent yourself,” Morton stated.
The jury needed to be excused a number of occasions in simply half an hour because the choose labored out points with Solis.
At one level, Dhaliwal’s family stepped out of the courtroom when photos had been proven.
Dhaliwal was a trailblazing deputy who wore his turban and beard as an element of his Sikh faith.
[my_adsense_shortcode_1]
story by The Texas Tribune Source link
[my_taboola_shortcode_1]
