Cherokee Co. woman gets life for murdering husband
Published 11:05 am Friday, November 14, 2014
- A Cherokee County deputy escorts Rebecca Barker from the courtroom. (CBS 19 photo)
UPDATE: RUSK (KYTX) – A Cherokee County jury has sentenced Rebecca Barker to life in prison, and a $10,000 fine.
Barker who was convicted of shooting and killing her husband had nothing to say when the sentence was handed down Friday morning.
The jury deliberated for about 30 minutes before reaching a decision.
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RUSK (KYTX) – Both sides have rested in the sentencing trial for convicted murderer Rebecca Barker.
She pleaded guilty last month to shooting and killing her husband back in February.
The prosecution opened day two with more than an hour of police interrogation interviews with barker, taken in the days following her arrest for killing her 76-year-old husband, Jerry.
Barker broke down in the courtroom as she watched the video — in which she admits to the murder — telling police he quote “pushed me to my limit.”
The defense spent the day seemingly hoping to paint Barker as an abused wife who made a bad decision when she pulled that trigger.
Barker’s friend, Shevie Poston testified that she saw her with black eyes about a month before Jerry’s murder, but the State argued against that claim.
Other witnesses, though, testified that they never saw any signs of trouble between the couple.
And several witnesses testified about an accident Jerry apparently had years ago that plagued him until his death, leaving him physically unable to lift his arms, perhaps planting some doubt in the juror’s minds about those abuse allegations.
The sentencing trial continues Friday, and the jury is expected to hear closing arguments.
Barker could spend the rest of her life in prison.