TX - Former NFL Antonio Armstrong & wife Dawn, both 42, fatally shot, Houston, *son charged* 29 Jul 2016 *Mistrials, 3rd trial in 2023 Guilty*

here I am again, popping up on a trial thread to jump on my soapbox to make a case for professional juries in this country. This is another case that needs one IMO. And moving to disregard text messages? wtf? And the missing evidence? Come on. Really?

These folks deserve justice for those who live on. No one will get it in this case IMO.

Too expensive and I would think after awhile they would become rubber stamp for prosecution.
 
Monday, March 2nd:
*Motions Hearing (@ 9am CT) – TX – Antonio & Dawn Armstrong (both 42) (July 29, 2016, Houston) – Antonio “A.J.” Armstrong, Jr. (20/16 @ time of crime) arrested (7/29/16), charged (8/1/16) & arraigned (7/26/17) with capital murder. Plead not guilty. $200K bond. Out on bond.
Trial started 4/2/19 & ended 4/26/19. 7 women & 5 men on jury with 1 woman alternate (Juror #12 excused 4/5/19). 4/26/19: after 20 hours of deliberations verdict was 8 Guilty & 4 Not guilty. Judge declares mistrial.
Re-trial was set to begin on 1/6/20-cancelled-pushed back to 3/26/20.

12/11/19 Update: A defense motion was filed to suppress all of A.J.'s cell phone records. Paperwork filed by the defense Friday claims evidence was lost during the first trial back in April (because prosecutors lost Armstrong's cell phone). A judge is expected to review that request next week. The retrial is set to start Monday, Jan. 6. A hearing for the motions regarding the cell phone records will happen on Friday, Jan. 3.
1/3/20 Update: Judge Kelli Johnson told prosecutors & defense attorneys they are not to discuss this latest motion with media. Trial has been pushed back 4 to 6 weeks, according to a prosecutor. The retrial was supposed to begin Monday, Jan. 6. The judge has not set an exact date. The motion was whether future jurors will see thousands of text messages extracted from Armstrong's iPhone. Because prosecutors lost Armstrong's iPhone at the end of his first trial, all records extracted from the phone should now be suppressed. The attorney for Armstrong filed a motion in December asking for Armstrong's phone records to not be allowed into evidence for the retrial. Next is motions hearing on 3/2, trial reset for 3/26/20.
 
Documents: Antonio Armstrong Jr.’s brother says he witnessed slaying of parents

March 5, 2020

HOUSTON – The brother of Antonio Armstrong Jr. admitted to psychiatric evaluators that he witnessed the slaying of his parents nearly four years ago, according to court documents.

In a motion filed by attorneys representing Armstrong in his murder trial, the defense said that records from Westpark Springs Hospital where Armstrong’s brother, Joshua Armstrong, was being treated, indicate Joshua Armstrong made several statements that he saw the 2016 killings of his parents Antonio Armstrong Sr. and Dawn Armstrong.
[.....]
In the motion filed Thursday, the defense argued that Joshua Armstrong’s statements prove that someone else was in the home when the slayings happened.

“The importance of these records cannot be overstated,” defense attorneys wrote in the documents. “Joshua Armstrong admitted to witnessing the murder of his parents. Thus, he places himself inside of the Armstrong residence at the time of their murders.”
[.....]
The motion was part of an amendment to an earlier response filed by the defense regarding the admission of alternate perpetrator evidence.
 
Wondering how the defense attorneys got their hands on what should have been confidential medical information, and how they could possibly prove it is authentic? I am worried now they may be blowing pre-trial smoke to plant some reasonable doubt in the jury pool. In my heart I don’t want AJ to be guilty, but I DO want a fair trial.
 
Monday, March 9th:
*Motions Hearing (@ 2pm CT) – TX – Antonio & Dawn Armstrong (both 42) (July 29, 2016, Houston) – Antonio “A.J.” Armstrong, Jr. (20/16 @ time of crime) arrested (7/29/16), charged (8/1/16) & arraigned (7/26/17) with capital murder. Plead not guilty. $200K bond. Out on bond.
Trial started 4/2/19 & ended 4/26/19. 7 women & 5 men on jury with 1 woman alternate (Juror #12 excused 4/5/19). 4/26/19: after 20 hours of deliberations verdict was 8 Guilty & 4 Not guilty. Judge declares mistrial.
Re-trial set to begin on 3/26/20.
12/11/19 Update: A defense motion was filed to suppress all of A.J.'s cell phone records. Paperwork filed by the defense Friday claims evidence was lost during the first trial back in April (because prosecutors lost Armstrong's cell phone). A judge is expected to review that request next week. The retrial is set to start Monday, Jan. 6. A hearing for the motions regarding the cell phone records will happen on Friday, Jan. 3.
1/3/20 Update: Judge Kelli Johnson told prosecutors & defense attorneys they are not to discuss this latest motion with media. Trial has been pushed back 4 to 6 weeks, according to a prosecutor. The retrial was supposed to begin Monday, Jan. 6. The judge has not set an exact date. The motion was whether future jurors will see thousands of text messages extracted from Armstrong's iPhone. Because prosecutors lost Armstrong's iPhone at the end of his first trial, all records extracted from the phone should now be suppressed. The attorney for Armstrong filed a motion in December asking for Armstrong's phone records to not be allowed into evidence for the retrial. Next is motions hearing on 3/2, trial reset for 3/26/20.
3/2/20 Update: Motions hearing reset for 3/9.
 
Ah - found another article

Second trial for AJ Armstrong, teen accused of killing parents in 2016, postponed


HOUSTON – Antonio “AJ” Armstrong Jr., the teen accused of killing his parents in 2016, was supposed to be in court Monday for his second murder trial after the first one ended in a mistrial in April 2019. However, more than 30 motions were filed in his case and a judge decided Friday to postpone the trial.

The motions heard Friday were to determine what evidence was admissible in the second trial against Armstrong Jr. after the mistrial in April. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office said the trial that was set to begin Monday has been postponed. A new date for the trial has not yet been set and officials are working to find a wide enough hole in the judge’s schedule to allow for a second trial.
 
Wednesday, March 11th:
*Motions Hearing (@ 2pm CT) – TX – Antonio & Dawn Armstrong (both 42) (July 29, 2016, Houston) – Antonio “A.J.” Armstrong, Jr. (20/16 @ time of crime) arrested (7/29/16), charged (8/1/16) & arraigned (7/26/17) with capital murder. Plead not guilty. $200K bond. Out on bond.
Trial started 4/2/19 & ended 4/26/19. 7 women & 5 men on jury with 1 woman alternate (Juror #12 excused 4/5/19). 4/26/19: after 20 hours of deliberations verdict was 8 Guilty & 4 Not guilty. Judge declares mistrial.
Re-trial was set to begin on 3/26/20 has been postponed.

Court info from 12/11/19 thru 1/3/20 reference post #227 here:
TX - Antonio & Dawn Armstrong, both 42, fatally shot, Houston, 29 Jul 2016 *Mistrial Retrial 1/6/20*

3/2/20 Update: Motions hearing from 1/3/20 reset for 3/9. 3/9/20: More than 30 motions were filed in his case and a judge decided Friday to postpone the trial. The motions heard Friday were to determine what evidence was admissible in the second trial against Armstrong Jr. after the mistrial in April. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office said the trial that was set to begin Monday has been postponed. A new date for the trial has not yet been set and officials are working to find a wide enough hole in the judge’s schedule to allow for a second trial. Motions hearing was reset to 3/11.
 
Date Court Post Jdgm Docket Type Reason Results Defendant Future Date Comments Attorney Appearance Indicator
3/26/2020 09:00 AM 178 Trial Docket Jury Trial Data Not Entered To Be Set-postponed

3/25/2020 02:30 PM 178 Master Docket Motion Hearing Data Not Entered To Be Set

3/11/2020 11:00 AM 178 Master Docket Motion Hearing Reset By Agreement Of Both Parties Absent 3/25/2020 RULNG/JTRL3/26 Pres

link: Office of Harris County District Clerk - Marilyn Burgess | Search Our Records
 
Friday, June 26th:
*Motions Hearing (@ 9am CT) – TX – Antonio & Dawn Armstrong (both 42) (July 29, 2016, Houston) – Antonio “A.J.” Armstrong, Jr. (20/16 @ time of crime) arrested (7/29/16), charged (8/1/16) & arraigned (7/26/17) with capital murder. Plead not guilty. $200K bond. Out on bond.
Trial started 4/2/19 & ended 4/26/19. 7 women & 5 men on jury with 1 woman alternate (Juror #12 excused 4/5/19). 4/26/19: after 20 hours of deliberations verdict was 8 Guilty & 4 Not guilty. Judge declares mistrial.
Re-trial was set to begin on 3/26/20 was been postponed on 3/2/20 & moved to 9/8/20.

Court info from 12/11/19 thru 1/3/20 reference post #227 here:
TX - Antonio & Dawn Armstrong, both 42, fatally shot, Houston, 29 Jul 2016 *Mistrial Retrial 1/6/20*

3/20/20 Update: Motions hearing from 1/3/20 reset for 3/9. 3/9/20: More than 30 motions were filed in case & judge decided Friday to postpone the trial. The motions heard on Friday were to determine what evidence was admissible in the 2nd trial against Armstrong, Jr. after the mistrial in April. The Harris County DA’s office said the trial that was set to begin Monday 3/26 has been postponed. A new date for the trial has not yet been set and officials are working to find a wide enough hole in the Judge’s schedule to allow for a 2nd trial. Motions hearing was reset to 3/11.
3/11/20 Update: Lawyers for Armstrong, Jr. are pushing the court to admit new records they claim suggest AJ’s half-brother witnessed their parents’ murders. The mental health records state Joshua Armstrong, “aw his parents murdered in 2016. However, the documents don’t appear to identify who may have killed Antonio & Dawn. Next motions hearing on 3/25. 3/25/20: Due to Coronavirus Motions hearing has been rescheduled to 6/8. 6/8/20 Update: Motions hearing reset again due to coronavirus to 6/26/20. Trial now will begin on 9/8/20.
 
Date Court Post Jdgm Docket Type Reason Results Defendant Future Date Comments Attorney Appearance Indicator
9/08/2020 09:00 AM 178 Trial Docket Jury Trial Data Not Entered RSOP VIRUS To Be Set

8/26/2020 01:00 PM 178 Master Docket Motion Hearing Data Not Entered MO MISS EVID To Be Set

6/26/2020 09:00 AM 178 Master Docket Motion Hearing On Docket In Error Data Not Entered MO MISS EVID To Be Set


Next/Last Setting Date: 8/26/2020


link: Office of Harris County District Clerk - Marilyn Burgess | Search Our Records
 
Looks like the trial has been reset.... again...

Docket:
12/09/2020 01:00 PM 178 Master Docket Motion Hearing Data Not Entered MO MISS EVID To Be Set

9/08/2020 09:00 AM 178 Trial Docket Jury Trial Data Not Entered RSOP VIRUS To Be Set

3/11/2020 11:00 AM 178 Master Docket Motion Hearing Reset By Agreement Of Both Parties Absent 3/25/2020 RULNG/JTRL3/26 Present


Hearings:
Next/Last Setting Date 9/8/2020


link: Office of Harris County District Clerk - Marilyn Burgess | Search Our Records
 
Looks like the trial has been reset.... again...

Docket:
12/09/2020 01:00 PM 178 Master Docket Motion Hearing Data Not Entered MO MISS EVID To Be Set

9/08/2020 09:00 AM 178 Trial Docket Jury Trial Data Not Entered RSOP VIRUS To Be Set

3/11/2020 11:00 AM 178 Master Docket Motion Hearing Reset By Agreement Of Both Parties Absent 3/25/2020 RULNG/JTRL3/26 Present


Hearings:
Next/Last Setting Date 9/8/2020


link: Office of Harris County District Clerk - Marilyn Burgess | Search Our Records

Thanks Niner!

I was really hoping for the August Trial Date.
 
Reset again - but we do have a trial date now. Well - for the time being...

Date Court Post Jdgm Docket Type Reason Results Defendant Future Date Comments Attorney Appearance Indicator
4/02/2021 09:00 AM 178 Trial Docket Jury Trial Data Not Entered RSOP VIRUS To Be Set

12/09/2020 01:00 PM 178 Master Docket Motion Hearing Data Not Entered MO MISS EVID To Be Set

Hearing:
Next/Last Setting Date 12/9/2020

link: Office of Harris County District Clerk - Marilyn Burgess | Search Our Records
 

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