By james art LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A Lubbock judge has declared the murder case of Julio Gutierrez a mistrial because the jury was dismissed.
Gutierrez was charged in the 2022 death of Thomas Richardson.
Court records and testimony reveal that Gutierrez and Richardson got into a fight that escalated into shots being fired. Officers found Richardson’s body at a home in the 2700 block of 42nd Street.
Prosecutors say Gutierrez chose to kill Richardson, but say they may never know the truth because Gutierrez claims it was self-defense.
The defense argued that Gutierrez acted in self-defense. They said he asked Richardson to leave the home and Richardson became increasingly aggressive and forced himself back into the home.
The process will now be rescheduled.
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