Kaitlin Armstrong sentenced to 90 years for murder of cyclist Mo Wilson - Updates

Jurors returned guilty verdict against Kaitlin Armstrong on Thursday for shooting death of star cyclist Moriah ‘Mo’ Wilson

Kaitlin Armstrong found guilty cyclist’s murder

Kaitlin Armstrong has been sentenced to 90 years in prison for the murder of her alleged love rival Moriah “Mo” Wilson.

A jury returned the sentencing verdict after around three and a half hours of deliberation on Thursday in Austin, Texas. Armstrong will also be required to pay a fine of $10,000.

The two women were reportedly involved in a love triangle with Ms Armstrong’s then on-and-off boyfriend and Wilson’s fellow cyclist Colin Strickland.

In the aftermath of the May 2022 shooting, Ms Armstrong fled to Costa Rica and was only captured five weeks later.

The state rested its case on Wednesday morning after introducing testimony from Mr Strickland, friends of Ms Armstrong, and law enforcement personnel. The defence called experts who sought to discredit the state’s DNA and ballistics evidence.

During closing arguments, prosecutors pointed out what they suggested was overwhelming evidence linking Ms Armstrong to the crime, and asked jurors to ignore the “rabbit holes” the defence had asked them to go down.

Meanwhile, Ms Armstrong’s attorneys accused police of a sloppy investigation that too quickly focused on her as the sole suspect.

Key points

• The key players in the deadly ‘love triangle’ at the centre of trial
• Former friend of Kaitlin Armstrong recalls death threats against Wilson
• Kaitlin Armstrong confronted Moriah Wilson on the phone, ex-boyfriend Colin Strickland says
• Armstrong’s ex clashes with media at court
• Kaitlin Armstrong found guilty of murder
• Kaitlin Armstrong jailed for 90 years for murder of Moriah Wilson

[16 November 2023 16:39 · Andrea Blanco]

Mr Jones asks for justice for Mo Wilson

Mr Jones said that Caitlin Cash, who found Wilson’s body, had asked him to refer to her by her last name because “[K]aitlin” was the name of the woman who had killed her friend.

“She pumped her friend’s heart over a hundred times,” Mr Jones said. “Not knowing that her friend had probably been dead for 45 minutes.”

Mr Jones then said the prosecution had met the burden of proof.”

“We can get out here quickly and find her guilty of shooting Mo Wilson in the head and heart and taking away this prodigy at the age of 25,” he said.

[16 November 2023 16:41 · Andrea Blanco]

‘She asked for you to hear her case'

Defense Attorney Rick Cofer told the jury that Ms Armstrong had been “caught in a nightmare of circumstantial evidence.”

He went on to claim that the prosecution’s case was built on assumptions and “confirmation bias.”

[16 November 2023 16:46 · Andrea Blanco]

‘What is the evidence that Kaitlin Armstrong is a jealous psycho?’

Mr Cofer noted that Mr Strickland had not been transparent during their relationship.

The defence attorney said that the call Ms Armstrong had made to Mo Wilson and the threats she had voiced did not make her a murderer.

[16 November 2023 16:46 · Andrea Blanco]

‘What is the evidence that Kaitlin Armstrong is a jealous psycho?’

Mr Cofer noted that Mr Strickland had not been transparent during their relationship.

The defence attorney said that the call Ms Armstrong had made to Mo Wilson and the threats she had voiced did not make her a murderer.

[16 November 2023 17:05 · Andrea Blanco]

Defence claims police did not thoroughly tested evidence

Mr Cofer used Wilson’s bike as a prop to show the parts where DNA was not collected from.

He criticised the state’s failure to test a rape kit investigators had collected.

(NewsNation)

[16 November 2023 17:09 · Andrea Blanco]

Defence says Armstrong fled while flee and out of fear

Mr Cofer said that the murder warrant had not been entered into the system when Ms Armstrong fled to Costa Rica.

He went on to tell jurors that she was scared whoever killed Wilson would target her next.

[16 November 2023 17:16 · Andrea Blanco]

Defence says love triangle narrative is ‘misogynistic'

Mr Cofer also raised allegations that Mr Strickland had been favoured by local authorities.

He argued that the “love triangle” narrative had been created by the defence due to misogyny deeply rooted in society.

[16 November 2023 17:33 · Andrea Blanco]

Defence asks jurors to focus on the ‘I don’t knows'

Defense Attorney Geoffrey Puryear says the things that remain unknown about the investigation are the most important.

He also tried to make jurors sympathise with Ms Armstrong over her brief May 2022 arrest.

“... but is never read her rights, and then they come in and say, oops! Sorry! No warrant, just kidding! But hey, stick around for a few minutes,” Mr Puryear said. “And then they come back and say, oops! We goofed again! You do have a warrant! How much trust would you have in them? Put yourself in that situation.”

[16 November 2023 17:35 · Andrea Blanco]

Court takes 15 minute recess

The defence will resume its closing arguments shortly.

[16 November 2023 17:43 · Andrea Blanco]

WATCH: Armstrong Defense attorney waves bike around in court during closing arguments