BEAUMONT, Texas — A 26-year-old woman found guilty Thursday in the 2019 stabbing death of her boyfriend will spend the next 45 years behind bars.
Closing arguments in the punishment phase of Amesty Haley Smith's murder trial began Friday morning in Jefferson County's Criminal District court and ended just after 11:30 a.m.
Less than an hour later the jury returned a sentence of 45 years.
Smith was found guilty Thursday afternoon for the stabbing death of her then 24-year-old boyfriend, Gerald Taylor, at the Pebble Creek Apartments in Port Arthur.
A key issue in her sentence was whether or not the murder was committed under “sudden passion.”
This refers to, “passion directly caused by and arising out of provocation by the individual killed.”
Jurors found that "sudden passion" was not involved.
Had they decided "Sudden passion was a factor, she could have been sentenced to only up to 20 years or life in prison and a possible fine of $10,000.
She will eventually be eligible for parole.
The deadly stabbing took place on October 12, 2019. Port Arthur Police responded to the 4100 block of Jimmy Johnson Boulevard shortly after 7 a.m. after receiving a call about a "man down" in front of the Pebble Creek Apartment complex.
Officers arrived and found Taylor, who was later pronounced dead. Medical professionals said Taylor been stabbed one time on the left part of his chest, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Smith and Taylor lived together at the apartment complex court records show.
A witness that lived at the complex told police, an intense argument between Smith and Taylor woke them up around 6 a.m. The witness told police as far as they could tell, Smith and Taylor were in good health when the two left the apartment at around 6:40 a.m.
During an interview, Smith told police she and Taylor left the apartment together. She stated the two got into an argument and then Taylor assaulted her while they were in the car, according to the affidavit.
Smith told police Taylor left the car after the assault while still in the complex, but the video shows that he left the car near the front gate where he was found dead.
Smith had scratches on the right side of her face and blood on her shirt near her right rib area, according to the affidavit. Smith denied ever hurting Taylor.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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