Guilty verdict in assault trial Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 29 2009 04:10 AM By Jade Ortego
Killeen Daily Herald

The victim of a brutal rape trembled as the judge read the guilty verdict of a 26-year-old Killeen man accused of beating and sexually assaulting her.

On Wednesday, Jamaal Larome Green was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault, a first-degree felony punishable with up to 99 years in prison. His punishment hearing is set for Nov. 24.

Green's trial, held in Judge Fancy Jezek's 426th District Court, lasted three days, which included testimony by the victim and the defendant.

During the jury's 9½ hours of deliberations, jurors sent out several notes in attempts to confirm the time police found the victim after the attack.

The victim said Green picked her up in Killeen just after midnight April 9, 2008. After a failed attempt at sex for money, she said he choked her in the Zip Cleaners parking lot on Gilmer Street as she tried to leave.

The victim said over the course of several hours, Green slammed her face repeatedly into the asphalt, raped her and threatened her life. He left her lying in a parking lot at around 5 a.m.

Green, a married father of four, testified that he would have been home between 4 and 5 a.m. waiting for his wife to drop off their children. The only other defense witness was a private investigator who said he'd unsuccessfully tried to find Green's wife.

Prosecutors presented DNA evidence linking Green to the victim and photos of the victim.

Prosecuting attorneys Shelly Strimple and Kara Schneible said they were pleased with the verdict. "We're happy we got some justice today," Strimple said.

Defense attorney Jeff Parker said that while he was disappointed with the verdict, he appreciated the jurors' effort.

"Clearly, they took their job seriously," he said.

The victim, who left the courtroom in tears, said, "I thank Jesus, and I thank justice."

Contact Jade Ortego at jortego@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7553.