HOUSTON – Jurors heard from a woman shot by a man after he killed a police officer in the convicted man's sentencing retrial on Wednesday..
Carl Wayne Buntion killed Officer James Irby, 37, during a traffic stop 22 years ago. Buntion, who was a passenger in the stopped vehicle, was originally sentenced to death.
Buntion fatally shot Irby as Irby was talking to the driver, John Killingsworth, behind the vehicle.
Buntion, 67, was granted a new sentencing hearing because the original jury did not hear about his troubled background. Buntion's attorney said his client was abused as a child and thought that Irby was going to shoot him, so Buntion shot him in self-defense.
After the killing, Buntion ran off and fired shots at three other people.
Theresa Clerkly was emotional when she testified. She and her cousin, Debra LaBlanc, were in a car and saw Buntion kill Irby.
Clerkly said she turned to her cousin and said she was frightened. Buntion then shot her, wounding her in the shoulder.
LeBlanc testified that she saw Buntion pull out a gun and point it at Irby. She said she tried to get away, but Buntion pointed the gun at her car and fired shots. She was injured by shattered glass.
"Those ladies were scared to death," said Gary Blankinship, Irby's partner on the force. "I think the guy was in a wild fit of rage at that point and I'm sure would have killed anybody in his way. Certainly with his track record, clearly this is a perfect example of where the system failed. This individual should have never been on the street."
Buntion was convicted of several crimes from 1961 to 1990. All of his sentences add up to 105 years.
Prosecutors also introduced testimony from a now-deceased witness. He read from the transcripts from the original trial.
Medical examiner Dr. Tommy Brown testified in Buntion's sentencing retrial Tuesday. Brown testified that the first shot the Irby's head killed him instantly. Buntion, 67, shot Irby twice more in the back, Brown said.
Richard Castillo witnessed the shooting.
"Irby never drew his gun," Castillo testified. "He tried, but he was shot."
Castillo said Buntion took off after the shooting. Castillo said he tried to help Irby, but it was too late. He said he used Irby's gun to hold Killingsworth at the scene.
Buntion was seen smirking and smiling during Castillo's testimony.