Gilbert Sentencing Trial Continues Monday

There will be no sentence for 17 year old Gavin Wayne Gilbert until Monday. Gilbert was found guilty of murder Friday,August 10, 2018, shortly after 11 a.m. Gilbert is guilty of first degree murder of Tyrese Pryor, 18, of Sulphur Springs. A Hopkins County Jury reached the decision in approximately 30 minutes after closing arguments were presented. 

The jury return at 1 p.m. to begin the sentencing phase of the trial. The range of punishment for first degree murder is 5 years to life. Testimony in the sentencing phase of the trial continued until late afternoon Friday. Closing arguments by the state and defense will begin at 8:30 a.m. Monday, August 13th. 

A dispute over a buy of a small amount of marijuana led to the shooting death of Pryor and Felony 1 murder charges and four counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon filed against Gilbert. Gilbert was tried only on the murder charge this week in Eighth Judicial District Court.

The  sale was between Gilbert and one of five passengers in a truck on County Road 1185 just off FM 1567 in the South Liberty area of Hopkins County. Those in the truck had traveled Sunday evening, December 17th, to the CR 1185 location to purchase a small amount of marijuana. During the sale, those present said a gun was produced and the driver of the truck began to speed away. That’s when 9-mm shots were fired into the back window and cab of the pickup as it drove away. Pryor, struck twice by the shots, was sitting in the back seat behind the driver of the vehicle according to testimony during the trial. Pryor was pronounced dead by Justice of the Peace B. J. Teer a short time later at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital in Sulphur Springs. 

texas flag courthouse
texas flag courthouse

Author: Staff Reporter

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