Campbell made no seen response as the decision was learn within the 174th District Courtroom. He handed his youthful brother a handful of his belongings and commenced writing a be aware. The penalty section got here shortly with testimony from Campbell’s brother and ex-wife defending his character.
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The ex-wife instructed the courtroom that Campbell is an efficient father and that after she is launched, she can be welcomed into the lives of their two kids, one in every of whom has particular wants.
Protection legal professional Murray Newman confirmed the jury footage of his consumer along with his kids.
The jury finally determined to condemn Campbell to seven years in jail.
“I like you all,” Campbell instructed his household as he entered an inmate holding space.
Prosecutors have been unable to name a witness for the sentence stage. Haynie was a outstanding member of Houston’s widespread skateboarding group City Animals however had no dwelling kinfolk. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Science was initially unable to establish Hayene till a telephone quantity for his witness, Randy Croft, was discovered amongst his belongings.
Croft had thought of Haynie a household pal for years and would retailer a few of his belongings in his storage.
Surveillance footage reveals the capturing
The protection famous that a lot of the felony investigation lacked context and that any proof that would have make clear what preceded the capturing had lengthy since expired.
The surveillance footage, which was recorded from greater than 60 ft away, started with Campbell off digital camera, having already reached the washer.
About 24 hours earlier, Campbell had run into Haynie and known as 911 to ask for the officer’s assist. Police didn’t gather the audio from the earlier 911 name, surveillance footage, or digital camera footage worn by the dispatching officer which may have defined why each males acted the way in which they did. No violation report was issued from that earlier incident.
Surveillance footage collected confirmed a person leaning in opposition to his parked jeep and Heiney swinging from his folding camp chair and packed purchasing cart to ask the person, who needed to, for a cigarette. As Haynie returns to the folding camp chair, Campbell climbs as much as the digital camera’s perspective to confront him. Hayei sat again down and Campbell instantly, with out obvious provocation, dropped his purchasing cart. Its contents spilled onto the concrete.
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Haini jumped to his ft and stood instantly throughout from Campbell. Inside seconds, Campbell had fired a single shot – mortally hitting Haynie within the neck. He died on the sidewalk.
In his testimony, Campbell stated, “I used to be embarrassed to have let my worry dictate what I used to be going to do. I took a human life — how may I not remorse it?”
The person who gave Hay a cigarette and hid behind a pole when he heard a gunshot. One of many investigators testified that he left the car parking zone on foot and the police couldn’t discover him to take his assertion.
It’s possible that this man overheard what phrases, if any, have been exchanged between Haynie and the safety guard previous to the capturing. The investigator admitted that his view of what he heard was related to the investigation.
The protection requires leniency earlier than sentencing
The homicide cost stemmed from Campbell’s recollection of the capturing differing from what the murder detective noticed on the video.
The safety guard claims that Hayene aggressively attacked him – however the detective, after watching the video, could not consider that was the case.
Assistant District Legal professional Edward Appelbaum stated Haynie was successfully minding his personal enterprise when Campbell confronted him and determined to knock over the cart along with his belongings.
“That is his life—his fruit, his garments, and a few laundry detergent,” stated Appelbaum. “That is all Michael Hay had.”
Appelbaum admitted that jurors possible felt dangerous for Campbell, who lacked a felony historical past previous to his arrest.
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“I do know he does not seem like your common killer,” he stated of the 5-foot-2 Campbell.
Newman inspired them to embrace this sympathy and to launch Campbell.
“You may really feel sympathy and understanding for Michael Haynie and the place he was in his life and really feel he did not need to die,” Newman stated throughout closing arguments.
The protection depicted Campbell as somebody with out a job working as an armed safety guard. Newman argued that cops obtain greater than six months of coaching to be accountable regulation enforcement officers. His consumer was given days off and had been within the enterprise for a couple of 12 months.
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