PTSD on Trial:Marine veteran found guilty of capital murder

PTSD was considered and all the facts were tied together for the justice system to work. While he was convicted we need to remember there was a time when military service and PTSD was not even mentioned. The families must take care of their own shock from all of this as well. PTSD does not just come from being involved in wars, crimes or natural disasters. It comes after trauma itself.

Marine veteran found guilty of capital murder in ex-girlfriend's death
Posted Saturday, May. 01, 2010
By ALEX BRANCH

abranch@star-telegram.com

FORT WORTH -- Jurors deliberated for about three hours Friday evening before convicting Eric Acevedo of capital murder for killing his ex-girlfriend, rejecting the defense argument that Acevedo, a combat veteran of Iraq, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and, therefore, did not intend to kill her.

Intent is a crucial factor in a capital murder conviction, and Acevedo's attorneys had hoped to show that he was unable in his mental state to form the intent to break into Mollie Worden's Saginaw town home on March 22, 2008, and stab her repeatedly.

Because the prosecution waived the death penalty, Acevedo, 23, was automatically sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Acevedo, a Marine, served three tours in Iraq.

'You had honor once'

During the final phase of the trial, when relatives of victims are allowed to address the defendant, Fuentes told Acevedo that her family once considered Acevedo their "brave Marine."

She told him that she never believed he didn't realize he was killing Worden.

"In my heart, Eric, I believe you knew what you were doing," she said.

Fuentes urged him to find the goodness that once existed inside him and put it to good use in prison.

After she spoke, Wisch paused, then looked at Acevedo and echoed that sentiment.

"You had honor once," Wisch told him. "You have the rest of your life to try and reclaim it."

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