1 00:00:08,042 --> 00:00:09,083 (SIREN BLARING) 2 00:00:10,458 --> 00:00:11,625 (PHONE RINGING) 3 00:00:13,542 --> 00:00:14,833 (OPERATOR SPEAKING) 4 00:00:14,875 --> 00:00:16,625 (MAN SPEAKING) 5 00:00:30,833 --> 00:00:32,333 (OPERATOR SPEAKING) 6 00:00:32,875 --> 00:00:34,750 (MAN SPEAKING) 7 00:00:43,250 --> 00:00:45,000 MAN: To not only lose your parents, 8 00:00:45,083 --> 00:00:48,042 but then to turn around and be accused for it, 9 00:00:48,167 --> 00:00:51,083 I wouldn't wish this on like, anybody. 10 00:00:57,625 --> 00:01:00,750 This is all or nothing. If he's convicted, he gets life in prison. 11 00:01:00,833 --> 00:01:03,375 This young man is literally fighting for his life. 12 00:01:04,125 --> 00:01:05,833 (MAN SPEAKING) 13 00:01:05,917 --> 00:01:06,833 (OPERATOR SPEAKING) 14 00:01:06,917 --> 00:01:08,125 (SPEAKING) 15 00:01:18,250 --> 00:01:19,833 REPORTER 1: We have new developments today 16 00:01:19,875 --> 00:01:22,333 in the case of a teen accused of killing both of his parents 17 00:01:22,333 --> 00:01:23,875 in southwest Houston. 18 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:25,167 REPORTER 2: Armstrong Jr. 19 00:01:25,208 --> 00:01:26,875 is accused of his killing his father 20 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:30,208 former NFL player, Antonio, and mother, Dawn, last July. 21 00:01:30,292 --> 00:01:32,208 REPORTER 3: Armstrong claimed he heard shots 22 00:01:32,292 --> 00:01:34,958 and saw a masked intruder in the house. 23 00:01:35,042 --> 00:01:36,375 REPORTER 4: He faces life in prison, 24 00:01:36,500 --> 00:01:39,792 with a possibility of parole after 40 years. 25 00:01:50,542 --> 00:01:52,708 RICK: AJ is accused of killing both his parents. 26 00:01:54,208 --> 00:01:56,625 In Texas, that constitutes capital murder. 27 00:01:58,417 --> 00:02:00,083 AJ's different than most clients. 28 00:02:00,167 --> 00:02:02,250 He was 16 when he got arrested, 29 00:02:02,333 --> 00:02:04,750 so he was a kid. He's still a kid. 30 00:02:06,417 --> 00:02:07,792 He's a young man that's looking at 31 00:02:07,875 --> 00:02:08,917 a long time in jail, 32 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:10,167 and we're trying to save him. 33 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:26,542 This is it. Huge accessory. 34 00:02:26,625 --> 00:02:29,500 I've had it for about 18 months now. 35 00:02:29,583 --> 00:02:31,208 I feel that extra weight on my leg. 36 00:02:32,667 --> 00:02:35,292 I'm not allowed to go past my driveway 37 00:02:35,375 --> 00:02:39,125 and I can't go wider than this little plant right here, 38 00:02:39,208 --> 00:02:41,250 and then I can't go wider than the tree. 39 00:02:51,375 --> 00:02:53,625 Just dealing with all the emotions 40 00:02:53,708 --> 00:02:55,375 of just being confined 41 00:02:55,500 --> 00:02:58,250 and not being able to do whatever you wanna do. 42 00:02:59,250 --> 00:03:00,667 It's been like two years 43 00:03:00,750 --> 00:03:03,458 since I've been in a school environment. 44 00:03:03,542 --> 00:03:05,250 I never actually thought I would say it, 45 00:03:05,375 --> 00:03:06,958 but I miss going to school. 46 00:03:07,042 --> 00:03:10,167 I just miss being able to be a normal kid again, 47 00:03:10,250 --> 00:03:12,500 like, that's all I wanna do. 48 00:03:12,583 --> 00:03:14,125 I'm just being patient with the whole process. 49 00:03:14,208 --> 00:03:16,500 I'm not letting my emotions take over 50 00:03:16,583 --> 00:03:18,875 and I'm just staying strong in my faith 51 00:03:18,958 --> 00:03:20,917 and things like that. So, that's all I really can do. 52 00:03:38,125 --> 00:03:40,667 How are you? What's going on? Good to see you. 53 00:03:40,708 --> 00:03:42,458 -So good to see you. -What's up, man? Come on back. 54 00:03:51,875 --> 00:03:53,958 RICK: It's going to be probably by far, the, 55 00:03:54,042 --> 00:03:55,750 one of the hardest things you've ever been through. 56 00:03:55,833 --> 00:03:59,500 The stress, the tension, 57 00:03:59,583 --> 00:04:01,750 the fear, the anxiety is gonna be through the roof. 58 00:04:03,333 --> 00:04:05,792 A good prosecutor will come out swinging, 59 00:04:05,875 --> 00:04:08,125 trying to influence the jury, trying to, 60 00:04:08,208 --> 00:04:10,750 you know, make it an emotional kind of deal. 61 00:04:10,875 --> 00:04:13,458 There's no DNA, there's no direct evidence. 62 00:04:14,875 --> 00:04:16,833 So in my mind, it's a very circumstantial case. 63 00:04:18,167 --> 00:04:19,917 We're shaking our heads in disbelief. 64 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:25,875 HPD have just pinpointed you and that's the end of the story. 65 00:04:35,083 --> 00:04:36,708 CHRIS: The state doesn't have a motive. 66 00:04:36,792 --> 00:04:38,917 They're going to paint a picture that, 67 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:40,875 "Hey, you're a bad kid," 68 00:04:40,958 --> 00:04:44,833 and somehow, that is supposed to translate into, 69 00:04:44,875 --> 00:04:46,833 you picked up a gun and killed your parents. 70 00:04:49,500 --> 00:04:52,125 People are just saying all these things about me 71 00:04:52,208 --> 00:04:54,500 and they have no idea who I am. 72 00:04:54,625 --> 00:04:57,458 -Everyone jumped on what the media said... -Yeah. 73 00:04:57,542 --> 00:04:59,333 AJ: ...when everything first went down 74 00:04:59,375 --> 00:05:01,833 and automatically said I was guilty. 75 00:05:01,875 --> 00:05:04,750 I was at the bail place and like, I was in my room, 76 00:05:04,833 --> 00:05:07,000 signing all my documents and like, this guy was like, 77 00:05:07,042 --> 00:05:09,417 "Yeah, that kid who killed his parents is here." 78 00:05:10,833 --> 00:05:13,042 That's honestly, one of the toughest things 79 00:05:13,125 --> 00:05:14,417 I've had to deal with. 80 00:05:14,500 --> 00:05:16,333 Um, I don't even know how you guys manage it. 81 00:05:16,458 --> 00:05:18,125 I don't think I could, if I was in your situation. 82 00:05:18,208 --> 00:05:21,208 So, we're gonna do everything we can to get you back home, 83 00:05:21,375 --> 00:05:23,167 get you on your path where you need to be, 84 00:05:23,250 --> 00:05:26,333 but make no mistake, this is deadly serious. 85 00:05:26,375 --> 00:05:27,542 We're fighting for your life here. 86 00:05:33,083 --> 00:05:35,333 AJ: Anybody whose life gets put on the line, 87 00:05:35,375 --> 00:05:39,000 it's a scary thing to deal with. 88 00:05:39,083 --> 00:05:41,917 I'm not allowing myself to stress out, panic, or anything like that. 89 00:05:43,833 --> 00:05:46,958 If I sit there and just allow the thoughts to bother me, 90 00:05:47,042 --> 00:05:49,458 the next thing I know, I'll be having an emotional breakdown, 91 00:05:49,542 --> 00:05:50,625 or something like that. 92 00:05:56,042 --> 00:05:58,792 RICK: All right, so we need to start talking about 93 00:05:58,792 --> 00:06:01,625 what we expect the state to present, 94 00:06:01,625 --> 00:06:03,333 as far as the events at the house. 95 00:06:03,375 --> 00:06:04,542 CHRIS: Okay. 96 00:06:10,667 --> 00:06:13,167 AJ says he was going to the restroom 97 00:06:13,208 --> 00:06:14,583 and he heard gunshots 98 00:06:14,708 --> 00:06:17,667 and his parents' door was cracked, which wasn't normal 99 00:06:17,792 --> 00:06:19,375 and he hauled butt into his room, 100 00:06:19,458 --> 00:06:21,000 got into the closet and called 911. 101 00:06:36,792 --> 00:06:39,125 RICK: AJ's in his closet, whispering, 102 00:06:39,208 --> 00:06:41,958 because he believes the person is still in the house. 103 00:06:42,042 --> 00:06:44,500 The police tell him to go get his sister. 104 00:06:44,583 --> 00:06:47,417 He goes and gets his sister. Comes down the stairs. 105 00:06:47,542 --> 00:06:51,042 Police say that they see him unlock the door 106 00:06:51,167 --> 00:06:53,125 and turn off the alarm system, 107 00:06:53,208 --> 00:06:54,792 and that's gonna be huge for them 108 00:06:54,875 --> 00:06:57,292 because they believe that the house was enclosed 109 00:06:57,375 --> 00:07:00,000 and no one else could have come in or out of the house. 110 00:07:01,333 --> 00:07:02,458 CHRIS: Police are saying 111 00:07:02,542 --> 00:07:04,500 they see no signs of forced entry, 112 00:07:04,583 --> 00:07:05,833 and so therefore, they said, 113 00:07:05,958 --> 00:07:08,833 it's gotta be somebody in the house that did it. 114 00:07:08,958 --> 00:07:12,000 AJ made the phone call, he's gotta be the guy. 115 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:14,042 End of story, that's their whole case. 116 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:19,500 RICK: The police storm the house, they check everywhere. 117 00:07:19,542 --> 00:07:22,042 They encounter Antonio and Dawn in the bed. 118 00:07:23,917 --> 00:07:24,875 They've been shot. 119 00:07:27,708 --> 00:07:32,542 A weapon is found in the kitchen on the granite counter top. 120 00:07:34,875 --> 00:07:38,708 We know that it was Antonio Sr's weapon. 121 00:07:38,833 --> 00:07:40,542 That's another hurdle we're gonna have, someone had to have 122 00:07:40,625 --> 00:07:43,667 access to the weapon that was in the house. 123 00:07:43,708 --> 00:07:47,083 They found a note in the kitchen area by the weapon, 124 00:07:47,208 --> 00:07:49,167 that says, "I have been watching for a long time." 125 00:07:55,667 --> 00:07:58,292 RICK: They've fingerprinted everything, 126 00:07:58,375 --> 00:08:00,000 DNA tested everything, 127 00:08:00,042 --> 00:08:01,792 gunshot residued everybody 128 00:08:01,792 --> 00:08:04,000 and there's no physical evidence 129 00:08:04,042 --> 00:08:06,833 that links AJ to murdering his parents. 130 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:13,542 Dawn and Antonio were executed by a coldblooded killer. 131 00:08:14,208 --> 00:08:15,167 It's not AJ. 132 00:08:25,792 --> 00:08:28,000 In my mind, if I'm a prosecutor, 133 00:08:28,042 --> 00:08:30,625 the biggest thing that I'm going to try 134 00:08:30,708 --> 00:08:32,167 to get across to the, to the jury, 135 00:08:32,292 --> 00:08:33,875 is that this is a secure house. 136 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:36,958 CHRIS: As far as I'm concerned, I think the prosecution's case 137 00:08:37,042 --> 00:08:40,375 can only be built around the alarm system. 138 00:08:40,542 --> 00:08:41,917 RICK: So, we need to figure out this alarm system, 139 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:43,625 we need to know exactly how it works. 140 00:08:44,833 --> 00:08:47,083 Is there a way to get into the house, 141 00:08:47,167 --> 00:08:48,000 without the alarm going off? 142 00:08:51,708 --> 00:08:54,500 That's my mom. That's me and my dad. 143 00:08:55,375 --> 00:08:56,583 Let's see what else we got. 144 00:08:57,750 --> 00:09:00,000 This is me and my mom. 145 00:09:00,042 --> 00:09:02,667 I'm just very grateful that they took all these pictures, 146 00:09:02,750 --> 00:09:04,417 'cause it was annoying growing up, 147 00:09:04,417 --> 00:09:05,625 'cause my mom wanted to take pictures 148 00:09:05,708 --> 00:09:08,125 for every little thing. 149 00:09:10,250 --> 00:09:12,000 Looking back on it now, I'm like, 150 00:09:12,083 --> 00:09:13,667 I'm really grateful we did, 'cause now we have, like, 151 00:09:13,708 --> 00:09:15,875 all of these memories and we're able to look back. 152 00:09:26,208 --> 00:09:28,708 It kinda makes me feel like they're still around me 153 00:09:28,708 --> 00:09:31,833 and kinda keeps me remembering them. 154 00:09:31,917 --> 00:09:35,875 We work hard at appreciating their life 155 00:09:35,958 --> 00:09:37,917 and celebrating their life. 156 00:09:44,542 --> 00:09:46,542 AJ: I mean, for me, it's just every day, 157 00:09:46,625 --> 00:09:48,208 you just want them there for everything. 158 00:09:49,583 --> 00:09:51,958 Me and my dad did everything together. 159 00:09:52,042 --> 00:09:53,875 He was my football coach growing up. 160 00:09:56,208 --> 00:09:57,292 He was like my best friend. 161 00:09:59,792 --> 00:10:02,958 Just imagine if you were in my shoes 162 00:10:03,042 --> 00:10:06,708 and you were innocent and you just lost your parents 163 00:10:06,792 --> 00:10:08,708 and someone was calling you 164 00:10:08,792 --> 00:10:11,542 on social media, murderer, killer, 165 00:10:11,625 --> 00:10:13,250 how would that really make you feel? 166 00:10:22,792 --> 00:10:25,333 You want to, uh, listen to his statement? 167 00:11:08,542 --> 00:11:09,625 This is the part. 168 00:11:20,375 --> 00:11:25,250 So, it looks like there's a shot from his room down. 169 00:11:40,917 --> 00:11:42,667 CHRIS: Yeah, I can see this getting twisted 170 00:11:42,708 --> 00:11:44,417 -into something pretty bad. -Yeah. 171 00:12:11,667 --> 00:12:14,958 Man, I'm afraid that there could be a, an inference drawn 172 00:12:15,042 --> 00:12:17,417 that he was practicing shooting the gun 173 00:12:17,542 --> 00:12:18,833 in order to kill his parents. 174 00:12:20,917 --> 00:12:22,958 You know, like, that could be a big problem. 175 00:12:23,042 --> 00:12:25,583 We don't know in the background, outside of this room, 176 00:12:25,667 --> 00:12:27,333 what these officers were saying to AJ. 177 00:12:27,375 --> 00:12:29,542 You know, you're gonna go to prison for the rest of your life, 178 00:12:29,625 --> 00:12:30,667 unless you tell us what happened. 179 00:12:30,750 --> 00:12:32,000 Juvenile statements, for me, 180 00:12:32,083 --> 00:12:33,292 have always been kind of a touchy subject, 181 00:12:33,292 --> 00:12:35,167 because they're so easy to influence and, 182 00:12:35,208 --> 00:12:37,833 and, and kind of pressure into stuff. 183 00:12:54,292 --> 00:12:56,833 Those first three months 184 00:12:56,875 --> 00:12:59,333 were like the worst time, like, of my life, you know. 185 00:12:59,375 --> 00:13:02,167 It was not only the fact that I was in jail, 186 00:13:02,250 --> 00:13:04,333 but like, everything I was going through. 187 00:13:04,375 --> 00:13:09,000 Give God the glory, to lift the name of Jesus, to celebrate the life of Dawn... 188 00:13:15,958 --> 00:13:18,833 AJ: That was the first time I had seen, like, 189 00:13:18,958 --> 00:13:21,667 all of my family since everything. 190 00:13:21,750 --> 00:13:23,917 That is AJ coming in, right there, that's him 191 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,000 with the white on, he's sitting down. 192 00:13:26,083 --> 00:13:28,958 I have my hands cuffed, but I was in such shock 193 00:13:29,042 --> 00:13:31,375 and I was sitting there, like, this can't be real, 194 00:13:31,500 --> 00:13:32,750 this has to be a nightmare. 195 00:13:34,375 --> 00:13:36,833 KAY: It was something I never in my life, 196 00:13:37,917 --> 00:13:41,042 ever thought I would experience. 197 00:13:42,250 --> 00:13:45,417 My grandchildren, my family, never. 198 00:13:46,708 --> 00:13:48,042 It was just... 199 00:13:52,167 --> 00:13:54,792 KAY: We all know AJ didn't murder his parents. 200 00:13:55,958 --> 00:13:58,083 Impossible. 201 00:13:58,167 --> 00:14:01,583 Then you have the question, who did? 202 00:14:10,083 --> 00:14:13,583 RICK: We are heading over to Dawn and Antonio's house 203 00:14:13,667 --> 00:14:14,542 right now. 204 00:14:17,625 --> 00:14:19,125 CHRIS: We are going to try to show 205 00:14:19,208 --> 00:14:22,083 someone else outside of AJ could have gotten into the house 206 00:14:22,167 --> 00:14:23,958 and, and committed the murders. 207 00:14:27,583 --> 00:14:29,583 The police statements say 208 00:14:29,708 --> 00:14:31,542 they saw AJ come down the stairs. 209 00:14:32,833 --> 00:14:35,958 They saw AJ turn off the alarm system 210 00:14:36,042 --> 00:14:37,792 and unlock the front door 211 00:14:37,875 --> 00:14:39,583 and allow the officers to enter in 212 00:14:39,667 --> 00:14:40,500 through the front door. 213 00:14:41,500 --> 00:14:43,167 So AJ must have done it, 214 00:14:43,208 --> 00:14:45,875 because he was the one that unlocked the door 215 00:14:45,958 --> 00:14:47,000 and turned off the alarm system. 216 00:14:47,125 --> 00:14:49,167 That's what we got a problem with. 217 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:06,625 In fact, this garage, there's a code box on the side. 218 00:15:06,708 --> 00:15:08,375 Then, the door from the garage 219 00:15:08,458 --> 00:15:11,125 into the house was always left unlocked. 220 00:15:11,208 --> 00:15:13,125 And in all our conversations with the family, 221 00:15:13,208 --> 00:15:14,333 there was multiple people 222 00:15:14,417 --> 00:15:16,125 that had access to open the garage. 223 00:15:17,417 --> 00:15:19,083 So, would you say 224 00:15:19,208 --> 00:15:22,333 a minimum, five, ten people had the access code? 225 00:15:22,417 --> 00:15:23,292 Yeah, minimum. Yeah. 226 00:15:36,250 --> 00:15:39,750 Based on our alarm expert, he says that, say for example, 227 00:15:39,833 --> 00:15:42,792 that garage door is not fully closed, 228 00:15:42,875 --> 00:15:44,542 if it's barely cracked 229 00:15:45,208 --> 00:15:46,667 and you go set the alarm, 230 00:15:47,792 --> 00:15:50,208 you can still arm the alarm, 231 00:15:50,292 --> 00:15:51,958 even though this thing is cracked. 232 00:15:52,042 --> 00:15:57,542 But what that does is, it bypasses the zone of whatever this door's on 233 00:15:57,625 --> 00:15:59,333 and it happens to be this door 234 00:15:59,417 --> 00:16:01,542 and the front door that sits right here. 235 00:16:01,667 --> 00:16:04,333 Didn't Miss Kay say that because so many people 236 00:16:04,417 --> 00:16:06,000 were coming in and out, that door was left open? 237 00:16:06,042 --> 00:16:09,125 She says that that door pops open all the time. 238 00:16:09,208 --> 00:16:11,125 She goes, "It's not like it's wide open" 239 00:16:11,208 --> 00:16:13,792 but she goes, "You know, sometimes it's just cracked 240 00:16:13,875 --> 00:16:15,167 "and you don't really know it, 241 00:16:15,292 --> 00:16:18,000 "you just walk right by it and it, it is what it is." 242 00:16:18,042 --> 00:16:22,125 So, if this sensor on that door doesn't make contact, 243 00:16:22,208 --> 00:16:24,542 -it disarms that zone? -Correct. 244 00:16:24,667 --> 00:16:25,958 So, then I could just walk in. 245 00:16:28,042 --> 00:16:30,000 I could just open the door, walk in the house, 246 00:16:30,125 --> 00:16:31,500 take a couple of steps and go up the stairway. 247 00:16:34,667 --> 00:16:36,042 So, it looks the expert can say 248 00:16:36,208 --> 00:16:39,708 that there is a way for someone to get in the house, 249 00:16:40,875 --> 00:16:42,042 without the alarm going off. 250 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:57,792 REPORTER 1: Armstrong Jr. planned and practiced the murder of his parents. 251 00:16:57,875 --> 00:17:00,250 REPORTER 2: Police said his story didn't stand up. 252 00:17:00,333 --> 00:17:01,542 REPORTER 3: Police are still trying to figure out 253 00:17:01,625 --> 00:17:04,042 why the couple's son shot them to death. 254 00:17:14,542 --> 00:17:16,083 AJ: A lot of this stuff wouldn't have happened 255 00:17:16,208 --> 00:17:19,000 if it wasn't because of my dad and, like, the way he was. 256 00:17:23,542 --> 00:17:28,208 I wouldn't have any of this publicity, I wouldn't be on TV. 257 00:17:31,083 --> 00:17:35,500 It's kind of funny how we have the innocent until proven guilty. 258 00:17:35,542 --> 00:17:37,417 We've realized that narrative really doesn't exist. 259 00:17:39,250 --> 00:17:41,125 People gotta sell a story, that's what it's all about, 260 00:17:41,208 --> 00:17:42,542 at the end of the day, it's about a story, 261 00:17:42,625 --> 00:17:44,917 and just the sad truth is, 262 00:17:44,917 --> 00:17:46,833 is saying someone's innocent 263 00:17:46,875 --> 00:17:48,083 really isn't an interesting story. 264 00:17:48,167 --> 00:17:49,625 It's more interesting to say they're guilty. 265 00:17:55,792 --> 00:17:57,542 Hey, Chris. 266 00:17:57,625 --> 00:17:58,708 -Chris? -What's up? 267 00:17:58,792 --> 00:17:59,708 Come here. 268 00:18:05,583 --> 00:18:07,208 RICK: So, 18 months ago, 269 00:18:07,333 --> 00:18:09,208 HPD did an interview of a witness, 270 00:18:09,292 --> 00:18:12,500 where the witness told the police, 271 00:18:12,625 --> 00:18:14,667 Antonio Sr. was getting death threats. 272 00:18:16,875 --> 00:18:18,500 CHRIS: Death threats? 273 00:18:18,583 --> 00:18:22,000 And we just learned about it in the last couple of hours. 274 00:18:22,083 --> 00:18:24,500 Man, that's, that's, that's huge. 275 00:18:24,583 --> 00:18:26,417 You should probably hear this part. 276 00:18:36,250 --> 00:18:37,833 Kid is charged with capital murder 277 00:18:37,875 --> 00:18:39,917 and we're just learning that there's a person out there 278 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:41,208 that knows of death threats. 279 00:18:41,292 --> 00:18:43,625 CHRIS: It's almost like, they have something 280 00:18:43,625 --> 00:18:45,083 and they're burying it, 281 00:18:45,167 --> 00:18:47,250 and our guy's life is on the line. 282 00:18:47,333 --> 00:18:49,625 This is pretty disturbing and it's consistent 283 00:18:49,708 --> 00:18:51,208 with someone else being the killer, 284 00:18:51,292 --> 00:18:52,500 which we've said all along. 285 00:18:52,542 --> 00:18:53,542 I'm gonna figure out what's going on. 286 00:19:09,583 --> 00:19:13,667 Looks like it was discovered and they tried to cover it up. 287 00:19:13,708 --> 00:19:15,000 Wow. 288 00:19:15,208 --> 00:19:17,417 RICK: It's been 18 months that they had the audio. 289 00:19:17,500 --> 00:19:19,542 At one point, one of the prosecutors says that, 290 00:19:19,625 --> 00:19:22,333 "This audio is burning a hole in my pocket." 291 00:19:24,208 --> 00:19:26,542 Ties straight into what we believe happened, 292 00:19:26,625 --> 00:19:27,875 that there's someone else out there, 293 00:19:27,958 --> 00:19:29,625 that committed these murders. 294 00:19:29,708 --> 00:19:33,167 To see this up close and personal in our face, 295 00:19:33,250 --> 00:19:35,667 in a case of this magnitude is ridiculous. 296 00:19:38,667 --> 00:19:42,792 If there is a witness out there that knew of death threats, 297 00:19:44,208 --> 00:19:45,250 I mean, think about that, 298 00:19:45,333 --> 00:19:48,792 death threats against Antonio Sr. 299 00:19:48,875 --> 00:19:52,375 I mean, there's nothing more relevant to this case than that. 300 00:19:52,458 --> 00:19:53,542 What if it's true? 301 00:20:07,375 --> 00:20:09,042 RICK: The prosecution has to turn over 302 00:20:09,167 --> 00:20:11,167 any evidence that's exculpatory, 303 00:20:11,250 --> 00:20:14,417 that tends to show that the person did not commit the crime. 304 00:20:14,500 --> 00:20:16,875 We didn't get it until a couple of weeks ago, 305 00:20:16,958 --> 00:20:19,292 so I believe we will never get a fair trial in this case. 306 00:20:20,542 --> 00:20:21,833 That's why we want it dismissed. 307 00:21:01,208 --> 00:21:02,333 RICK: We want what's fair. 308 00:21:03,958 --> 00:21:06,333 My client wants a fair trial 309 00:21:06,458 --> 00:21:07,500 and he's not getting it. 310 00:21:10,083 --> 00:21:11,375 Absolutely. 311 00:21:11,458 --> 00:21:14,042 What happened was, another person was in the house. 312 00:21:14,125 --> 00:21:17,167 This information goes straight into that, 313 00:21:17,208 --> 00:21:20,000 it leads directly to that situation. 314 00:21:20,083 --> 00:21:21,125 They don't want us to know about it, 315 00:21:21,208 --> 00:21:23,000 they don't want us to fully investigate it, 316 00:21:23,125 --> 00:21:25,208 they want to sweep it under the rug. 317 00:21:25,375 --> 00:21:27,292 -We're done, thank you. -MAN: You've got this. 318 00:21:27,375 --> 00:21:28,500 (AJ SNIFFLES) 319 00:21:33,208 --> 00:21:36,792 (BELLS TOLLING) 320 00:21:42,292 --> 00:21:46,833 KAY: Being accused of two capital murders, 321 00:21:46,917 --> 00:21:52,000 how could anything to prove his innocence be denied, 322 00:21:52,083 --> 00:21:53,958 something of this magnitude? 323 00:21:56,833 --> 00:21:58,667 AJ: I can't sit here and dwell on it 324 00:21:58,750 --> 00:22:00,792 and be mad and say, "Oh, I hate these people." 325 00:22:00,875 --> 00:22:02,875 I can't sit there and do that, 'cause at the end of the day, 326 00:22:02,958 --> 00:22:06,667 like, we just have to adjust and move on. 327 00:22:06,750 --> 00:22:09,667 My parents always taught me, no matter what it is, 328 00:22:09,750 --> 00:22:11,958 you have to try and find some good in it. 329 00:22:34,875 --> 00:22:38,208 RICK: In my mind, there's reasonable doubt all over this case. 330 00:22:38,292 --> 00:22:41,583 I'm not gonna accuse anyone else of committing these murders, 331 00:22:41,667 --> 00:22:43,542 but I can you tell that there's some really strong evidence 332 00:22:43,625 --> 00:22:45,250 that points away from, from AJ 333 00:22:45,333 --> 00:22:48,542 and that's what we need to present to the jury. 334 00:22:48,625 --> 00:22:51,708 Our job is not to prove that someone else did it, 335 00:22:52,583 --> 00:22:54,417 our job is to show, you know, 336 00:22:54,500 --> 00:22:55,708 maybe the police didn't investigate properly. 337 00:22:57,417 --> 00:23:00,750 We're going to present evidence about AJ's half-brother, Josh. 338 00:23:14,375 --> 00:23:17,208 RICK: Josh had access to the house, 339 00:23:17,292 --> 00:23:19,000 so, everything that the prosecution 340 00:23:19,042 --> 00:23:21,375 is gonna say applies to AJ, applies to Josh. 341 00:23:27,292 --> 00:23:31,625 We do know that Josh's hands were bagged for gunshot residue 342 00:23:31,708 --> 00:23:35,167 and we have a form from that officer where he asked Josh 343 00:23:35,292 --> 00:23:38,542 where he was at the time of the murders and he refused to answer. 344 00:23:38,625 --> 00:23:40,708 That's something we need to present to the jury 345 00:23:40,833 --> 00:23:42,458 to show them that there is reasonable doubt 346 00:23:42,542 --> 00:23:44,000 about AJ committing these crimes. 347 00:23:51,333 --> 00:23:53,000 RICK: We have medical records showing 348 00:23:53,042 --> 00:23:56,458 that he's been in and out of mental facilities. 349 00:23:56,542 --> 00:23:58,917 The doctors believe he's homicidal, suicidal. 350 00:24:10,917 --> 00:24:14,333 KAY: To have to make a decision to let all this stuff come out, 351 00:24:14,417 --> 00:24:16,500 concerning Josh, you know, 352 00:24:16,542 --> 00:24:18,917 it is hard, and, and it is difficult, 353 00:24:19,958 --> 00:24:21,458 because we love him. 354 00:24:21,458 --> 00:24:23,250 We're praying for him, 355 00:24:23,333 --> 00:24:25,875 for his mental stability, 356 00:24:26,000 --> 00:24:28,833 and, uh, we gonna always be there for him. 357 00:24:30,792 --> 00:24:32,958 RICK: It's a very, very difficult situation 358 00:24:33,042 --> 00:24:35,417 for this family to have to deal with, 359 00:24:35,500 --> 00:24:36,417 because it's another family member, 360 00:24:36,542 --> 00:24:40,000 but the evidence as we see it, 361 00:24:40,042 --> 00:24:41,958 points in a different direction than AJ. 362 00:24:43,708 --> 00:24:45,542 You know, if, if that's not reasonable doubt, 363 00:24:46,250 --> 00:24:47,458 I don't know what is. 364 00:25:03,792 --> 00:25:05,000 Hey, looky there, I found it. 365 00:25:06,875 --> 00:25:07,792 Got it. 366 00:25:21,167 --> 00:25:22,375 RICK: So, what we have 367 00:25:22,458 --> 00:25:24,917 are thousands of text messages from AJ's phone. 368 00:25:25,042 --> 00:25:27,583 It looks like he's having difficulty with Mom. 369 00:25:27,667 --> 00:25:29,208 There's some stuff going on 370 00:25:29,333 --> 00:25:31,333 and it looks like Mom was getting annoyed with him, 371 00:25:31,375 --> 00:25:32,500 so I'm just concerned that 372 00:25:32,583 --> 00:25:33,708 it's something they're gonna bring up. 373 00:25:55,917 --> 00:25:58,875 Name one 16-year-old that you know of 374 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:02,000 that doesn't lie to parents or have issues with grades. 375 00:26:02,042 --> 00:26:03,667 RICK: Yeah, I think it'll be difficult 376 00:26:03,750 --> 00:26:05,750 for a jury to buy into that as motive. 377 00:26:05,875 --> 00:26:07,333 I mean, a lot of it is with his girlfriend, 378 00:26:07,417 --> 00:26:08,500 "I love you," 379 00:26:08,625 --> 00:26:09,958 you know, "You're sexy," 380 00:26:10,083 --> 00:26:13,292 it's, it's a 16-year-old flirting with his girlfriend. 381 00:26:13,375 --> 00:26:15,083 I mean, this is what? 382 00:26:15,167 --> 00:26:19,542 A little over an hour before he allegedly kills his parents 383 00:26:19,667 --> 00:26:21,375 and that's not the mind-frame 384 00:26:21,458 --> 00:26:23,167 -of somebody who... -Not at all. 385 00:26:23,208 --> 00:26:25,875 ...is about to kill his parents. It's kind of ridiculous. 386 00:26:34,375 --> 00:26:37,833 I came to the conclusion in life that things are gonna happen. 387 00:26:37,875 --> 00:26:39,708 There are gonna be tough situations. 388 00:26:39,792 --> 00:26:42,042 You're gonna find yourself stressed out. 389 00:26:46,875 --> 00:26:48,667 You remember the heartache, you remember the pain, 390 00:26:48,792 --> 00:26:50,833 you remember the suffering that you've been through 391 00:26:50,875 --> 00:26:53,250 and through all of that, yet and still, you still stand. 392 00:26:56,583 --> 00:26:58,625 AJ: I wish I could just yell at all of y'all, and just be like, 393 00:26:58,708 --> 00:27:00,708 "Look, like, I'm innocent, 394 00:27:00,792 --> 00:27:03,583 "like, let me go, like just, just let me be." 395 00:27:03,667 --> 00:27:06,167 But nobody wants to hear that the kid 396 00:27:06,250 --> 00:27:09,333 that they tried to say killed his parents is actually innocent. 397 00:27:09,375 --> 00:27:11,375 ANTONIO: You made it through all those situations 398 00:27:11,375 --> 00:27:12,875 and you're gonna make it through this one as well. 399 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:15,708 As long as you don't quit. 400 00:27:27,042 --> 00:27:30,792 RICK: The mood is good, we're excited, um, we're ready to go. 401 00:27:30,875 --> 00:27:32,417 We're ready to get this case in front of a jury. 402 00:27:32,500 --> 00:27:34,875 It, it's kind of like combat, you know, you get in the mix 403 00:27:34,958 --> 00:27:36,833 and all kinds of crazy things happen 404 00:27:36,875 --> 00:27:38,708 and people say weird things and you gotta figure out, 405 00:27:38,833 --> 00:27:40,458 you know, how you're gonna recover from that 406 00:27:40,542 --> 00:27:42,333 and what we're gonna do, and that applies to the state as well. 407 00:27:43,750 --> 00:27:45,083 They're gonna argue that, 408 00:27:45,167 --> 00:27:47,167 you know, AJ was the only one in the house 409 00:27:47,208 --> 00:27:48,625 that could have committed this offense. 410 00:27:48,708 --> 00:27:49,833 Um, they're also gonna say 411 00:27:49,875 --> 00:27:52,167 that the alarm was a closed system. 412 00:27:52,250 --> 00:27:53,875 Um, the alarm in this case 413 00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:57,833 is gonna be a throw-down knockout, you know, brawl 414 00:27:57,917 --> 00:27:58,958 regarding the experts talking about 415 00:27:59,042 --> 00:28:00,042 what happened in that house. 416 00:28:01,917 --> 00:28:03,833 We feel very comfortable 417 00:28:03,875 --> 00:28:06,667 with what we think we can prove regarding the alarm, 418 00:28:06,792 --> 00:28:09,333 um, but that's gonna be their case. 419 00:28:09,417 --> 00:28:11,167 If it's a closed environment, 420 00:28:11,250 --> 00:28:13,000 you know, it had to be AJ or Kayra. 421 00:28:14,250 --> 00:28:16,458 They arrested AJ within ten or 15 minutes, 422 00:28:16,542 --> 00:28:20,292 they put him in handcuffs, before they had any evidence. 423 00:28:20,375 --> 00:28:23,750 Most jurors, they're gonna wonder, what caused this? 424 00:28:23,833 --> 00:28:25,792 You know, there's no motive for, 425 00:28:25,875 --> 00:28:27,917 you know, getting grounded and then executing your parents. 426 00:28:35,750 --> 00:28:37,792 KAY: We all are gonna be supportive of one another. 427 00:28:38,958 --> 00:28:41,000 We have to be sensitive to each other's 428 00:28:41,042 --> 00:28:43,250 feelings and emotions, because the prosecution, 429 00:28:43,375 --> 00:28:45,750 they're gonna say a lot of negative hard things. 430 00:28:47,042 --> 00:28:49,417 It's gonna be an emotional battle. 431 00:28:49,500 --> 00:28:50,458 It's gonna be a fight. 432 00:28:51,500 --> 00:28:52,917 They're coming to say, 433 00:28:52,917 --> 00:28:55,000 "You're the man we've said was guilty 434 00:28:55,083 --> 00:28:57,542 "and you're not gonna make us look bad." 435 00:28:57,625 --> 00:28:59,083 They're not coming for justice. 436 00:29:00,167 --> 00:29:02,000 They are coming to tear you down, 437 00:29:02,125 --> 00:29:04,458 break you up, shred you into pieces. 438 00:29:16,750 --> 00:29:18,125 AJ: It's a lot of nerve. 439 00:29:18,208 --> 00:29:19,750 It's obviously, like, really scary 440 00:29:19,833 --> 00:29:24,000 to have a jury of 12 people 441 00:29:24,083 --> 00:29:27,000 about to like, decide my freedom forever. 442 00:29:37,458 --> 00:29:39,333 KAY: My concern is, 443 00:29:39,458 --> 00:29:42,417 what will these people choose to believe? 444 00:29:43,750 --> 00:29:45,958 Everything is circumstantial. 445 00:29:49,250 --> 00:29:51,375 AJ Armstrong maintained his innocence, 446 00:29:51,458 --> 00:29:55,000 but detectives are convinced the facts just don't add up. 447 00:29:59,542 --> 00:30:02,667 COURT OFFICIAL: All rise. 178 District Criminal Court is now in session. 448 00:30:02,708 --> 00:30:04,833 Honorable Judge Kelli Johnson presiding. 449 00:30:04,917 --> 00:30:06,042 JUDGE: Court, please be seated. 450 00:30:25,958 --> 00:30:30,000 JOHN BREWER: On July 28th of 2016, the alarm was set 451 00:30:30,125 --> 00:30:32,333 in the home of, uh, Dawn and Antonio Armstrong. 452 00:30:34,958 --> 00:30:39,250 We're safe, we're sound, protect us from the outside. 453 00:30:39,375 --> 00:30:41,500 Could not protect 'em from the inside. 454 00:30:41,542 --> 00:30:43,083 The alarm never went off. 455 00:30:44,292 --> 00:30:46,542 Dawn Armstrong, the defendant's mother, 456 00:30:46,625 --> 00:30:48,167 she was shot twice in the head. 457 00:30:48,208 --> 00:30:50,958 She probably never knew it was her son that killed her. 458 00:30:53,417 --> 00:30:56,000 And I'm sure never in their wildest dreams did they, 459 00:30:56,083 --> 00:31:01,417 did they imagine that, you know, the alarm couldn't protect 'em, 460 00:31:01,500 --> 00:31:05,375 'cause it, they're gonna be killed by their own child. 461 00:31:08,208 --> 00:31:10,208 -Thank you, Your Honor. -JUDGE: Thank you, be seated. 462 00:31:13,208 --> 00:31:16,500 Within 11 minutes of going into that house, 463 00:31:17,458 --> 00:31:18,958 they made up their mind, 464 00:31:20,167 --> 00:31:21,125 he did it. 465 00:31:23,417 --> 00:31:28,292 There is no DNA matching AJ on the weapon. 466 00:31:28,375 --> 00:31:33,208 There is no evidence of his parents' blood 467 00:31:33,208 --> 00:31:36,833 anywhere around him, on him, or in his room, or anywhere. 468 00:31:43,708 --> 00:31:45,500 You're gonna hear about a lot of people 469 00:31:45,583 --> 00:31:46,417 who had access into the house. 470 00:31:47,542 --> 00:31:50,042 Josh is AJ's brother, 471 00:31:50,125 --> 00:31:53,958 you're gonna hear evidence that he's suicidal, 472 00:31:54,042 --> 00:31:56,292 you're gonna hear evidence that he's homicidal. 473 00:31:57,083 --> 00:31:58,667 That's reasonable doubt. 474 00:31:58,708 --> 00:32:01,333 And we anticipate after hearing all the evidence in this case, 475 00:32:01,417 --> 00:32:05,292 you will find Antonio Jr. not guilty. Thank you. 476 00:32:08,083 --> 00:32:09,583 JUDGE: Thank you, Mr. Detoto. 477 00:32:09,708 --> 00:32:11,167 State, call your first witness. 478 00:32:19,875 --> 00:32:21,042 REPORTER: What was your reaction 479 00:32:21,042 --> 00:32:23,625 to listening to that 60-minute interview 480 00:32:23,708 --> 00:32:27,500 between officers and AJ? 481 00:32:27,583 --> 00:32:30,333 What about the back and forth between him saying, 482 00:32:30,458 --> 00:32:34,125 "I've never shot a gun. Oh, yeah, actually I did, it was a few weeks ago." 483 00:32:34,208 --> 00:32:35,958 You can hear detectives say a few times, 484 00:32:36,042 --> 00:32:37,708 he changed his story. 485 00:32:37,833 --> 00:32:39,208 RICK: Well, I mean, it's a 16-year-old 486 00:32:39,292 --> 00:32:41,167 whose parents have just been shot. 487 00:32:41,208 --> 00:32:42,708 He's scared to death, 488 00:32:42,792 --> 00:32:45,125 he's been in police custody for what, seven or eight hours, 489 00:32:45,208 --> 00:32:46,583 in the back of a patrol car? 490 00:32:46,667 --> 00:32:47,667 He's a juvenile. 491 00:32:47,833 --> 00:32:49,167 There's gonna be some inconsistencies. 492 00:32:49,208 --> 00:32:51,042 That doesn't mean he killed his parents. 493 00:33:01,250 --> 00:33:02,458 CHRIS: We knew it was coming, 494 00:33:03,833 --> 00:33:05,417 and there's not much you can do 495 00:33:05,542 --> 00:33:07,292 to really prepare yourself for it. 496 00:33:08,917 --> 00:33:11,083 I can look at crime scene photos all the time, 497 00:33:11,167 --> 00:33:13,750 I can look at autopsy photos all the time 498 00:33:13,875 --> 00:33:16,167 and I have in the past on other cases. 499 00:33:16,917 --> 00:33:18,500 But this particular case, 500 00:33:18,583 --> 00:33:20,833 because it's so close and it's so personal, 501 00:33:20,958 --> 00:33:22,375 it was, it was difficult. 502 00:33:25,500 --> 00:33:26,583 At the end of the day, 503 00:33:27,917 --> 00:33:30,625 that's AJ's mom and dad up there. 504 00:33:32,417 --> 00:33:34,333 The judge stopped the trial and said, 505 00:33:34,417 --> 00:33:36,833 "You know, do we need a minute for y'all to collect yourselves 506 00:33:36,917 --> 00:33:38,000 and take a break?" 507 00:33:38,042 --> 00:33:39,208 This and that. 508 00:33:41,292 --> 00:33:43,000 We stayed out in the hallway 509 00:33:43,875 --> 00:33:47,333 and AJ had to go back in, 510 00:33:47,375 --> 00:33:50,333 and I told AJ, "You have to sit through it, 511 00:33:50,458 --> 00:33:52,542 "but don't, don't look at this stuff." 512 00:34:05,167 --> 00:34:07,292 AJ: For me, it was just, 513 00:34:07,375 --> 00:34:10,667 it was a real raw emotional moment. 514 00:34:12,375 --> 00:34:14,667 You get so swallowed up in everything, 515 00:34:14,708 --> 00:34:17,292 you kind of forget the real reason, like why we're here. 516 00:34:19,042 --> 00:34:21,083 My parents are gone. 517 00:34:21,167 --> 00:34:25,292 That is the toughest pill to swallow. 518 00:34:31,708 --> 00:34:35,875 KAY: My family's a victim to a viscous crime 519 00:34:35,958 --> 00:34:38,542 and what I don't understand is, 520 00:34:38,625 --> 00:34:42,958 because we don't agree with the theory of the prosecutor, 521 00:34:43,042 --> 00:34:46,250 we are treated like enemies to them. 522 00:34:46,333 --> 00:34:48,667 We're the people that are alive and living, 523 00:34:48,708 --> 00:34:50,167 that was harmed. 524 00:34:52,250 --> 00:34:55,333 So who is the State of Texas fighting for? 525 00:35:01,458 --> 00:35:03,333 REPORTER 1: Court's still going on right now. 526 00:35:03,375 --> 00:35:04,958 I will get back in there 527 00:35:05,042 --> 00:35:07,333 and I'll have another update for you, coming up at five. 528 00:35:07,500 --> 00:35:09,083 REPORTER 2: And we'll update you here 529 00:35:09,167 --> 00:35:11,625 and of course online, at Click2Houston.com. 530 00:35:11,708 --> 00:35:13,250 Though, for now, we are reporting live 531 00:35:13,333 --> 00:35:14,917 from the Harris County Criminal Justice Center. 532 00:35:14,917 --> 00:35:16,750 I'm Brandon Walker, KPRC. 533 00:35:28,333 --> 00:35:31,417 The State's theme in this whole case is basically, 534 00:35:31,542 --> 00:35:33,792 there was no signs of forced entry, 535 00:35:33,875 --> 00:35:35,500 there was an alarm set, 536 00:35:35,583 --> 00:35:38,833 so therefore, that house was sealed. 537 00:35:38,875 --> 00:35:41,375 Well, the problem is, where's the evidence? 538 00:35:41,458 --> 00:35:44,333 Where's the DNA, where's the gunshot residue? 539 00:35:44,417 --> 00:35:46,375 Where's the blood splatter? 540 00:35:46,458 --> 00:35:49,833 Today showed that you could enter the house 541 00:35:49,875 --> 00:35:51,125 through the garage door, 542 00:35:51,208 --> 00:35:52,833 without setting off the alarm 543 00:35:52,875 --> 00:35:55,208 and we showed that conclusively today. Thank you. 544 00:35:55,375 --> 00:35:56,667 REPORTER: Thank you. 545 00:36:02,750 --> 00:36:04,958 So far, I think we're fighting really hard. 546 00:36:05,042 --> 00:36:06,583 But at the end of the day, 547 00:36:06,667 --> 00:36:08,500 we don't know what those 12 people are thinking, 548 00:36:08,583 --> 00:36:10,375 we don't know what they're hanging their decision on, 549 00:36:10,500 --> 00:36:12,375 so it's kind of a crazy deal. 550 00:36:14,542 --> 00:36:17,333 I've spent a lot of time with AJ in the last three years. 551 00:36:17,375 --> 00:36:19,542 He's a little bit like an adopted, you know, son, 552 00:36:19,625 --> 00:36:21,792 that I'm trying to get through this storm. 553 00:36:21,875 --> 00:36:24,375 I'm gonna do my job and, and try to kick ass and, 554 00:36:24,458 --> 00:36:26,667 and, you know, do everything I can to get him back home. 555 00:36:42,833 --> 00:36:45,500 You know, credibility matters. 556 00:36:45,583 --> 00:36:46,750 He is a liar. 557 00:36:46,833 --> 00:36:48,375 I don't know what it is, 558 00:36:48,458 --> 00:36:50,417 but there's something wrong with him. 559 00:36:53,458 --> 00:36:55,167 The people in the house 560 00:36:55,250 --> 00:36:59,375 that restricted his freedom, they were killed. 561 00:36:59,458 --> 00:37:04,333 These people took everything from him and he didn't like it. 562 00:37:05,833 --> 00:37:06,708 He planned it 563 00:37:07,333 --> 00:37:08,958 and he practiced it 564 00:37:10,875 --> 00:37:13,292 and he lied about it. 565 00:37:13,375 --> 00:37:15,333 JOHN: The defendant's guilty, ladies and gentlemen. 566 00:37:23,042 --> 00:37:25,500 An impenetrable fortress. 567 00:37:25,542 --> 00:37:30,500 This is the absolute foundation of the State's case. 568 00:37:30,542 --> 00:37:33,583 If there's no way in the house and no way out of the house, 569 00:37:35,000 --> 00:37:36,333 where's the evidence? 570 00:37:37,375 --> 00:37:40,250 It is not an impenetrable fortress 571 00:37:40,333 --> 00:37:42,333 as the State would have you believe. 572 00:37:45,167 --> 00:37:48,500 RICK: Who do you think is more likely to be involved in this case? 573 00:37:49,750 --> 00:37:51,750 AJ, or Josh? 574 00:37:53,708 --> 00:37:56,750 Josh Armstrong lived minutes away. 575 00:37:56,833 --> 00:37:59,750 He had complete access to the house. 576 00:37:59,833 --> 00:38:02,500 They never attempted to find any evidence related to Josh. 577 00:38:04,250 --> 00:38:07,875 That has reasonable doubt written all over it. 578 00:38:09,375 --> 00:38:10,625 With all due respect, 579 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:15,667 find AJ not guilty in this case. 580 00:38:21,000 --> 00:38:24,125 REPORTER 1: You rested your case, how is everyone feeling? 581 00:38:24,208 --> 00:38:29,167 CHRIS: AJ's been absolutely fantastic though this entire ordeal. 582 00:38:29,250 --> 00:38:31,292 I don't know how he's done it. 583 00:38:31,375 --> 00:38:34,250 Um, but I guess when you're innocent, 584 00:38:35,125 --> 00:38:37,083 you know, you have faith and hope 585 00:38:37,083 --> 00:38:38,750 and, and you stand your ground. 586 00:38:38,833 --> 00:38:41,083 REPORTER 2: AJ decided not to testify, can you walk us through 587 00:38:41,167 --> 00:38:42,583 why he decided not to do so? 588 00:38:42,667 --> 00:38:45,083 AJ wanted to testify, he wanted to tell his story, 589 00:38:45,208 --> 00:38:48,542 but based on our training and our experience of doing this for 21 years, 590 00:38:48,625 --> 00:38:50,625 we told him, they haven't proven their case, 591 00:38:50,708 --> 00:38:52,958 uh, things have gone well and we feel confident. 592 00:39:01,917 --> 00:39:03,000 -KAY: AJ? -Huh? 593 00:39:03,083 --> 00:39:04,583 How do you think today went? 594 00:39:05,833 --> 00:39:06,833 I don't know. 595 00:39:06,917 --> 00:39:09,167 There's nothing anybody else can say, 596 00:39:09,250 --> 00:39:11,792 there's nothing anybody else can do. 597 00:39:11,875 --> 00:39:14,458 Like, everything's done like, it's simply out of our hands. 598 00:39:15,917 --> 00:39:17,125 There's about to be a lot of argument, 599 00:39:17,208 --> 00:39:18,583 like, in that room. 600 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:21,417 It's very scary. 601 00:39:22,708 --> 00:39:26,333 I still believe they will not find you guilty. 602 00:39:26,417 --> 00:39:28,542 One way or the other, just be done. 603 00:39:35,250 --> 00:39:38,875 It's hard in the face of all of this, to stay positive. 604 00:39:40,625 --> 00:39:41,750 It's the not knowing. 605 00:39:43,333 --> 00:39:45,125 Well, is this the last time I'll be in my bed? 606 00:39:45,208 --> 00:39:46,000 Is it the last time... 607 00:39:47,542 --> 00:39:50,208 I'll see my sister at home, 608 00:39:50,292 --> 00:39:52,875 like, where's, there's, it's real life. 609 00:40:21,042 --> 00:40:23,375 COURT OFFICIAL: Court come to order, remain seated. 610 00:40:24,500 --> 00:40:26,708 All right, good evening, everybody. 611 00:40:26,792 --> 00:40:30,375 Ladies and gentlemen, I did receive this last note. 612 00:40:33,958 --> 00:40:38,167 And the note states, "We are unable to arrive at a unanimous verdict, 613 00:40:38,250 --> 00:40:39,958 "without causing some members of the jury 614 00:40:40,042 --> 00:40:42,167 "to do violence to their conscience." 615 00:40:45,125 --> 00:40:49,458 The court finds, it is improbable the jury can reach a verdict, 616 00:40:49,542 --> 00:40:51,250 and, and accordingly, because of that, 617 00:40:51,375 --> 00:40:52,792 the court declares a mistrial. 618 00:41:16,667 --> 00:41:19,125 We didn't win. We do know what's ahead of us 619 00:41:19,208 --> 00:41:23,042 and all the pain and suffering and hard work that's coming, 620 00:41:23,125 --> 00:41:24,833 but he got to go home, 621 00:41:24,917 --> 00:41:27,333 and in our business if your client gets to go home 622 00:41:27,417 --> 00:41:28,625 to fight again, that's a good day. 623 00:41:28,708 --> 00:41:31,000 So, I think I was very happy with what we did 624 00:41:31,083 --> 00:41:35,083 but you know, I feel like we need to gather our strength again 625 00:41:35,208 --> 00:41:38,417 and get back to work and get this kid home for good. 626 00:41:38,500 --> 00:41:40,542 We've got some tweaking to do, 627 00:41:40,625 --> 00:41:44,833 some adjustments to make, and you know, try it again. 628 00:41:44,875 --> 00:41:46,583 There's doubt in this case. 629 00:41:46,667 --> 00:41:48,042 There's doubt all through this case. 630 00:41:48,125 --> 00:41:49,750 It's just a matter of getting them to see it clearer. 631 00:41:57,292 --> 00:42:00,250 REPORTER 1: In 2019, a jury could not decide 632 00:42:00,333 --> 00:42:01,667 if AJ really did it, 633 00:42:01,708 --> 00:42:04,083 and now he's going to be in a courtroom 634 00:42:04,208 --> 00:42:05,333 to prove his innocence 635 00:42:05,417 --> 00:42:07,333 in his capital murder re-trial. 636 00:42:07,375 --> 00:42:09,292 COURT OFFICIAL: All rise for the jury. 637 00:42:09,375 --> 00:42:12,833 REPORTER 2: The defense now saying someone else was there 638 00:42:12,875 --> 00:42:15,667 when Dawn and Antonio Sr. were murdered. 639 00:42:15,750 --> 00:42:17,667 AJ could not have committed these crimes. 640 00:42:17,708 --> 00:42:20,000 It's been unfair. It's been wrong. 641 00:42:20,125 --> 00:42:22,250 I'm so ready to get my life back. 642 00:42:23,542 --> 00:42:25,667 We've been waiting six long years 643 00:42:25,750 --> 00:42:27,667 to get a not guilty verdict. 644 00:42:27,708 --> 00:42:30,333 RICK: We have this young man's life in our hands. 645 00:42:30,458 --> 00:42:31,792 It's really scary. 646 00:42:32,708 --> 00:42:35,500 What does a murderer look like? 647 00:42:35,583 --> 00:42:38,000 It's time to let this young man go. 648 00:42:38,042 --> 00:42:41,042 REPORTER: Just another twist in this AJ Armstrong case. 649 00:42:41,167 --> 00:42:43,667 I know I'm innocent so it just has to work out for me. 650 00:42:45,125 --> 00:42:47,875 We, the jury, find the defendant...