Former Harris County deputy and reality TV bailiff Renard Spivey has been acquitted of his wife's 2019 death. After approximately 12 hours of deliberation, Wednesday brought Spivey's trial to a close, with the jury choosing to clear him of the murder charges stemming from the fatal shooting of his spouse, Patricia Spivey, as the Houston Chronicle reported.
The defense painted the incident as a tragic accident caused by a heated confrontation where Spivey fought with his wife over a gun that went off. Dick DeGuerin, one of Spivey's lawyers, stated, "It was a tragedy," and emphasized that, "Nobody is really a winner in this, but at least the jury saw it was an accident. A tragic accident, but an accident nonetheless." in the closing argument, Spivey claimed his wife confronted him with a gun after he attempted to check her phone for evidence of infidelity, an affair that prosecutors said was tearing their marriage apart. The jury's question about the definition of reasonable doubt during their talks could have been pivotal in the outcome of the controversial case.
The trial began on Nov. 28 and featured Spivey's testimony in which he claimed self-defense, stating the weapon, a Smith and Wesson handgun with no built-in safety mechanism, went off accidentally during their scuffle. However, the prosecution raised serious concerns about the timing and credibility of Spivey's account, with Mary McFaden questioning Patricia's ability to use a gun she had never operated before. The surveillance footage showed the sound of gunfire in their kitchen just eight minutes after Patricia retired to bed, which did not align with Spivey's claim that he waited until she was asleep to review her phone, a point highlighted by McFaden, who said, "No one goes to sleep in three minutes," according to the Houston Chronicle.
The case was further complicated by testimonies, including the distressing words from Patricia's daughter, Patrina Marshall, who told Hoodline, "She was my cushion when things were hard," exposing the personal tragedy beyond the legal proceedings.
