Posted on 04/07/2023 3:41:44 PM PDT by Ledgerfreedom
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The trial for Daniel Perry ended Friday, and after jury deliberation, he was found guilty of murder for the death of a man during a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest.
Perry faced one count of murder and another count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after the deadly shooting of Garrett Foster in the streets of downtown Austin on July 25, 2020. While he was found guilty of murder, the jury found that he was not guilty of the aggravated assault charge.
Austin police report from July 2020 incident According to APD’s description of the incident, a car turned on Congress Avenue near 4th Street at 9:51 p.m. into where a group of protesters was marching against police violence. Protesters surrounded the car. Foster was armed with an assault-style weapon and was one of the protesters who surrounded the car.
MOST READ: Solar Eclipse: Texas cities prepare one year out Former Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said that is when the driver, later identified as Perry, fired five shots from inside the vehicle, hitting Foster multiple times. Foster never fired a shot. Another protester then shot at the car three times but did not hit anyone.
Perry and the other shooter were detained by police after the incident. Audio from Perry’s 911 call and video from his interview with APD were played during the trial.
Recap of the trial During the trial’s opening statements March 28, the defense argued Perry had to defend himself after he was swarmed by protesters. Perry, an Army sergeant, came in contact with the protesters after traveling to Austin from Killeen to drive for Uber for supplemental income.
Related coverage:
Opening statements in murder trial of man accused of shooting, killing protester in Austin Daniel Perry trial day 2: Fiancée of killed BLM protester testifies Murder trial: Expert says Daniel Perry slowed down as he made turn into crowd of protesters Daniel Perry murder trial almost over, attorneys prepare for closing arguments Opening statements from the state revealed Foster was a frequent BLM protester, and prosecutors said he was protesting nearly every day that summer. The state argued Perry incited the crowd, causing protesters to respond by hitting and kicking his car, and also screaming at him.
According to state prosecutors, Perry openly discussed his anti-protest feelings on social media. They said he had a conversation with a family friend a few weeks prior to the Austin BLM protest on July 25, about a protest in Seattle, where a driver drove into a crowd and killed a protester. Prosecutors said in this conversation with his friend, Perry agreed someone could and should claim self-defense even if they incited a crowd.
Perry’s defense said he did everything he could to avoid the protesters as he dropped off one of his riders downtown. They said he was fully cooperative with police and turned over his phone and social media passwords right away, without a warrant.
The state argued Perry sped into the crowd of protesters, though that was disputed by the defense’s expert witnesses who used science and data to track the speed of his car. The expert testified he was slowing down when his car entered the demonstration.
The defense and state both rested Wednesday afternoon. During the trial, nearly 40 witnesses were called on to testify. Closing arguments were given Thursday before jurors began deliberations.
Jurors concluded their deliberations Friday evening.
In Texas, the governor can not pardon anyone, it is up to the pardons and parole board.
I’ve lived there and can tell you that despite the 20% or so if good ppl there it needs anything bomb detonated there
Yeah, this guy’s screwed. But I really think at least a token level of support to whoever is worth it in this case.
I’ve seen a lot of defense cases go bad, and this is about as bad as it gets.
Yes, we are in a civil war and it’s never been more apparent.
We live 55 miles from Austin and I realize that’s too close.
We avoid Austin as much as possible - but occasionally we have to make the trip there if we fly out on an airline.
I personally thought that at least 1 juror would have some common sense in this “trial.”
I hate Austin. I hate what our nation has become. I feel the need to move deeper into the hinterlands.
Comment self censored.
Apparently, his social media comments supporting law and order negated his right to self defense.
This was an open and shut case of self defense.
Hey, let me explain America’s new justice system. If ablack kills another person of color or especially a white person it is a misdemeanor. If a white kills a black for whatever eason it’s at least a 2nd degree murder ... thanks to George Soros who has said the US is the only country standing in the way of a one world government and he is successfully destroying it.
Austin is essentially Los Angeles politically.
He can pardon him
I’ve seen footage of MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE MURDERED during the rioting. I’ve only seen innocent people prosecuted.
Was the DA a GEORGE SOROS DA? Was the judge a Democrat? Was the jury Democrat? Never going to get justice in America anymore.
I guess I’m screwed. I’m sure they have a file on me. You as well.
We can’t keep running.
I did a few years at Ft Hood a LONG time ago. Back then, we’d go to Bergstrom sometimes and eat out in Austin before heading back. It was a little liberal but OK back then - early 90s. From what I’ve read, it is now a place to get gas while still 40 miles out so you don’t have to even slow down on the freeway while passing through.
This is what he said, which got him convicted, much more than a support of law and order. This is tragic, because it was clearly self defense, IMO. But you have to watch what you say, even jokingly.
"I might have to kill a few people on my way to work, they are rioting outside my apartment complex," Perry wrote to a friend in June of 2020. "I might go to Dallas to shoot looters," he wrote on another occasion.
It was out of context, but is damning to a liberal jury.
Take Scott Adams’ advice. Get the heck away from those people.
“Do not believe that being in a red state, especially Texas, will help you in any defense situation. You’re screwed usually.”
There is a reason why Austin is called Autism. It’s the most liberal city in all of Texas.
So it doesn’t surprise me one bit that such a verdict was handed down. The defense dropped the ball by not pushing for a change of venue.
You all need to read the FB posts and text messages. He convicted himself
The governor is not a king here-pardons like that are for the bureau of pardon and parole to decide. I agree there should be one, but it can’t be gotten that way-better a new trial w/change of venue...
‘It’ll be twelve unapologetic anti-Trump partisans who won’t even bother to disguise their hatred towards the president.’
such obvious partisans may not survive voir dire from Trump’s attorneys...
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