FINALLY.....JUSTICE FOR BRISENIA: A Pima County jury has finally convicted Minute Woman Shawna Forde today of two counts of first-degree murder in the May 30, 2009 murder/deaths of Arivaca residents 9-year-old daughter, Brisenia and her Dad. The jury also convicted Forde of attempted first-degree murder in the shooting of Brisenia's Mom, Gina Gonzalez, as well as related aggravated assault and robbery counts. Brisenia's Mom Gina started crying as soon as the first GUILTY verdict, the killing of her daughter, was read just before noon in a packed courtroom at Pima County Superior Court.The jury deliberated for seven hours over two days. Jurors will now be asked if the death penalty ought to be considered. On the first day of the trial, which has gained national attention, BRISENIA'S MOM testified her husband woke her to say the police were at the door. The woman at the door (Shawna Forde) identified herself and the man with her as law enforcement officers looking for fugitives, Gina said. When her husband questioned the veracity of their story, Gina said the gunman opened fire, shooting her husband and her. As Gina played dead on the floor, the gunman fired two bullets into their youngest daughter, Brisenia's head, despite the little girl's pleas. Thankfully, their other daughter was spending the night at her grandmother's house. Moments after Forde, Gunny Bush and their two accomplices left, Gina testified Shawna Forde returned to find Gina on the phone with 911 and called out to Gunny Bush to finish Gina off. Gina said she fled to the kitchen, armed herself and fired back when the Minutemen tried to kill her again. Gunny Bush then fled.
Forde, Gunny Bush, 36, and Albert Gaxiola, 44, were arrested within two weeks of the slayings. Forde, Gunny Bush and Gaxiola are scheduled to go to trial March 15 and June 1, respectively.
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