Both Sides Rest In Cop Killer's Punishment Phase

HOUSTON -- A jury will soon decide if a man convicted of killing a Houston police officer should pay with his life, KPRC Local 2 reported.

The prosecution and defense rested Thursday in the punishment phase of Juan Leonardo Quintero's trial

Quintero, 33, was found guilty last week of capital murder in the death of Officer Rodney Johnson. Quintero was in the back seat of Johnson's patrol car after he was arrested for driving without a license on Sept. 21, 2006.

The two sides sparred in the courtroom Thursday after prosecutors revealed they had tapes of Quintero talking to a friend on the phone while Quintero was in jail.

The friend was a character witness for the defense on Wednesday.

Prosecutors said the friend told Quintero, "If I were on the jury, I'd get you off."

Defense attorneys said they were not aware of the 289 phone calls. The judge said a discovery order required the state to give the defense any taped calls containing Quintero's voice.

Quintero's mother pleaded for her son's life on Wednesday. She told the jury that his father constantly beat him and he suffered from episodes of fainting and irrational fears.

Quintero confessed to the murder, but said he shot Johnson because he was afraid of being arrested and the possibility that he could be deported to Mexico because he was in the United States illegally. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, claiming that a childhood brain injury caused him to not be able to reasonably react to some circumstances.

Jurors will begin deliberations after they hear closing arguments on Monday.