Sentencing hearing resumes for cop killer

Sentencing hearing resumes for cop killer


A witness testified about cop killer Wesley Lynn Ruiz's criminal history during his sentencing hearing that resumed this morning.

A Dallas County jury last month found the 28-year-old guilty of capital murder in the death of Dallas police Senior Cpl. Mark Nix.

Cpl. Nix, 33, was killed after a March 2007 chase that ended in Dallas. After Mr. Ruiz spun out and crashed in front of a house, Cpl. Nix got out of his police car and tried to beat the front passenger window of the car Mr. Ruiz was driving.

Mr. Ruiz shot Cpl. Nix in the chest as he used 2 hands to swing his baton at the window.

Mr. Ruiz testified during his trial that he believed officers fired at him first and that he was simply firing back in self-defense. But the jury rejected that notion.

The jury will consider whether Mr. Ruiz should be sentenced to death or life in prison without the opportunity for parole.

(source: Dallas Morning News