RICHMOND, Texas โ A man charged with shooting and killing an 8-year-old girl after a crash nearly three years ago got underway in a Fort Bend County courtroom.
Prosecutors used their opening statement to remind the jury of the pain and anguish Payton caused by the senseless killing of the young girl.
In the defenseโs opening statement, attorney James Rivera told jurors the authoritiesโ position to pin this horrific crime on someone should not overshadow what the evidence showed.
Thomas told jurors she thought Payton was female because he had dreadlocks at the time of the shooting.
โAs he sits here today, heโs an innocent man and heโs an innocent man in this case," Rivera said.