Sunday morning feel good stories
From COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
A one-time bride-to-be accused of killing her fiance will not be charged with a crime, prosecutors said Friday.
At the end of the day, there just was not enough evidence to file murder charges against Jacqueline Souza, said Deputy District Attorney Andrew Vaughan.
“Under the circumstances of this case, I would be required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ms. Souza did not act in self-defense … the facts are not sufficient to support a conviction in this case.”
Souza, 31, could have faced second-degree murder charges in the stabbing death of Brandon Watkins over the summer. Arrest papers obtained by 11 News in July state Souza admitted to having a fight with her groom-to-be over the invitation list just before he died. Vaughan said evidence casts doubt that what happened next fits the criteria for a murder charge.
“Ms. Souza consented to have a medical examination done, forensic medical examination done. The results of the medical examination of Ms. Souza showed that she did have pinpoint bruising to the neck. Which is one sign of strangulation, some evidence of strangulation.”
Vaughan said the medical findings backed up Souza’s claims that Watkins strangled her during the fight, and that along with physical evidence, witnesses also corroborated her account. Neighbors told authorities they heard a man yelling angrily from the couple’s garage that same night, Vaughan said in court Friday.
“Other evidence that I used to examine witness statements that supported Ms. Souza’s statement that there was an altercation inside the garage where she was being strangled by Mr. Watkins prior to Mr. Watkins’ death,” he told 11 News.
The victim’s family pleaded with the judge Friday to change the course of action. After much discussion, the judge said it was not in her power to make that decision, and the prosecuting attorney is the only one who can press charges in this situation.
“Murder in Colorado is acceptable,” an enraged Roger Watkins told 11 News after the hearing. “A veteran can get killed, she can admit it, and the [deputy district attorney] can get her off. How to get away with murder, come to Colorado Springs.”
Brandon Watkins’ mother, Susanne Franzolin, said she was heartbroken by the decision.
“I feel nauseous, and we are not giving up.”
Both parents had harsh words for Vaughan.
“The DA is [Souza’s] best defense,” Roger Watkins said.
“I believe that he never really cared about Brandon, and he was so afraid of losing that he wouldn’t file the charges; he was afraid of losing.”
Vaughan told 11 News that he was sorry for the family’s loss, but he could not convince a jury of 12 people that there was no doubt Souza murdered Watkins unprovoked.
“In the state of Colorado you can rely on self-defense to protect yourself from what you believe is an unlawful use of force. The degree of force that you use has to be a reasonable use of force. But based on the evidence in this case, allegations of strangulation, allegations of Mr. Watkins was using a knife, we have come to the determination that the use of force, we would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt that she used a unreasonable amount of force.”
Vaughan said he encourages the family to pursue “any avenue” they feel would be justice for Watkins.
Category: Feel Good Stories
Well at least she didn’t slice his dick off.
If he was getting pissed off over an invitation list, what else would be a trigger? In a fight to the death, if there is only one survivor, then there is only one story to testify. I wasn’t there, but it appears that she saved herself some future grief.
1 Turn o’ ye hourglass UNBELIEVABLE BUT TRUE! Trivia: Which ship was consider the most “Unlucky” ship in the US Navy?! ANSWER: USS William D. Porter DD-579 nicknamed the “Willie D”! The USS William D. Porter DD-579 was by far one of the most unlucky ship the Navy has ever had. What all happened to her could be taken right out of an Adam Sandler movie. 5 things happened to her that dub her the most unlucky ship in the history of the US Navy. 1. When pulling out of port to escort the President of the US aboard the USS Iowa during WWII, the USS William Porter managed to wreck her sister ship with her anchor, dragging the anchor across the deck and causing her sister ship severe cosmetic damage. 2. When out at sea, the USS William Porter accidentally dropped a live depth charge overboard and sent the her convoy into a frenzy. Shortly after the convoy figured out what happened, the engine compartment on the USS William Porter was flooded by a rogue wave, causing her to lag behind. 3. After catching up with the convoy hours later, the USS William Porter once again accidentally let loose with another explosive device, except this one was a torpedo… aimed right at the USS Iowa and the President who was on board the Iowa. Under the orders to maintain radio silence no matter what, the USS William Porter tried signaling the USS Iowa via flashing light. They tried numerous times but failed to raise the USS Iowa. Eventually one of the Radiomen or back then Radar Operator broke radio silence and told the USS Iowa about the torpedo. Luckily the torpedo missed after the USS Iowa took evasive action. 4. At this point the USS William Porter was sent to Alaska after a unanimous decision by a US Naval Court to get the ship out of the way. After almost a year of uneventful duty at Alaska, the top brass decided to send her to the Pacific. But before she could leave port, a drunk Gunners Mate decided to… Read more »
Damn!!!
dahell…Least the sailors were fairly lucky. Wonder how many tried to transfer to another berth when they got the assignment to the Porter? Thanks Chief, always enjoy and learn from your Naval History lessons. On this date in history 1797″Old Iron Sides” USS Frigate Constitution was christened in Boston Harbor.
Never heard about that one, amazing, but how in hell would an anchor be dragging on the deck of a sister ship? I am not sure shooting up the base commanders house was an accident LOL…must have been a very mad ghost on that ship 😉