Juror from first murder trial of ex-NFLer's son AJ Armstrong 'concerned' third jury 'didn't understa
A juror in A.J. Armstrong's first trial has said the recent jury - which found the 23-year-old guilty of his parents' murder - 'didn't understand reasonable doubt.'
A.J. was convicted Wednesday for the killings of his NFL retiree dad, Antonio Armstrong, and his mother, Dawn Armstrong, who were slain inside home in 2016.
Prior to Wednesday's guilty verdict, A.J. - who was just 16 at the time of his parents' deaths - had two mistrials during previous attempts to deliver justice.
'I'm concerned that the jurors didn't understand reasonable doubt,' said Lance Staudacher, a juror from the first trial.
'And it's unfortunate that he has been on trial this many times,' he told ABC 13. 'Try enough times and you'll find the right jury.'
Lance Staudacher (left), a juror in A.J. Armstrong's first trial has said the recent jury - which found the 23-year-old guilty of his parents' murder - 'didn't understand reasonable doubt'
A.J. (middle) was convicted Wednesday for the killings of his NFL retiree dad, Antonio Armstrong, and his mother, Dawn Armstrong, who were slain inside home in 2016
A.J.'s wife Kate Ober fled the courtroom Wednesday after the sentence was announced
The guilty verdict comes after seven years of legal battles for the son of the ex-NFL star who played for the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers.
A.J. was first arrested hours after his parents bodies were found inside their Texas townhouse on July 29, 2016. He was entering his junior year of high school then.
In March 2017, a Houston judge certified A.J. - who was 17 - to be tried as an adult.
He was eventually released on $200,000 bond a month later and remained free with an ankle monitor until his trial began in March 2019.
After two months on trial and more than two days deliberating, a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in the first trial. The judge ultimately declared a mistrial.
Following his first mistrial, A.J. married the Kate Ober, who was his girlfriend at the time of his 2016 arrest. The couple also welcomed a son in that time.
In October 2022, the 22-year-old went back on trial for a second time.
Ultimately, the jury in that trial once again could not reach a unanimous conclusion despite deliberating for more than two days and a mistrial was declared.
The trial only lasted a few weeks.
A.J. was first arrested hours after his parents bodies were found inside their Texas townhouse on July 29, 2016. He was entering his junior year of high school then
Armstrong Sr. was a former linebacker for the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers in the NFL
Finally, in May 2023, jury selection began for a third time and took more than 150 hours as lawyers went through dozens of potential jurors.
The trial began in July and wrapped up in August with final arguments being heard from both sides on August 15.
After hearing from 31 witnesses over 11 days, the jury took just 10 hours to find the now 23-year-old guilty of his parents' murders.
Following the announcement of his guilty verdict, A.J.'s wife Kate Ober fled the courtroom in tears after he attempted to console her.
A.J.'s attorney, Rick Detoto, said Ober was 'devastated' as she left after the sentencing.
'His family is amazing, and obviously they are devastated right now but they will rally and they will help A.J. and his wife and his young son,' he told reporters.
A.J. is being transferred to state custody and will be sent to the Byrd Unit next.
The unit is designated for male inmates condemned to death or given life sentences ranging from 50 years to more.
He was given two life sentences with possibility of parole in 40 years.
A.J. was given two life sentences with possibility of parole in 40 years
Following his first mistrial, A.J. married Ober, the woman who was his girlfriend at the time of his 2016 arrest. The couple also welcomed a son in that time
After his verdict and sentencing were announced, A.J. and his attorneys immediately filed a lawsuit against the Houston Police Department.
The attorneys claim blood evidence was planted after the first two mistrials.
Two blood spots were found this earlier this year on an visitor badge that was stuck to Armstrong Jr.'s shirt on the night of the killings.
It was in allegedly found in an evidence box with other items.
The blood evidence, which wasn't presented in the first two trials, came up in the third trial.
Officers had initially testified that they saw no blood on Armstrong's shirt the night of the arrest or afterward when we was interviewed.
'They all testified in court they saw no DNA evidence. So how is it all of a sudden, oops, here's the DNA evidence,' attorney Randall Kallinen said Wednesday at a news conference with Armstrong family members.
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