Did “handsomeness” sway the jury?

Four weeks ahead of his January 17 sentencing date for the crime of manslaughter, Robert Marquez Wilson was in court on December 20 for hearings on two post-trial motions. Both motions were denied by 13th Judicial District Court Judge Chuck West.
Wilson was convicted on October 5 in the shooting death of Kathy Weston that took place in April 2017. Wilson was originally charged with second degree murder after a stray bullet struck Weston in the chest while she was walking to a store located on North Chataignier Street in Ville Platte.
After the trial, Wilson’s attorney, Elbert Lee Guillory of Opelousas, filed a motion to set aside verdict and a motion for a new trial.
Guillory stated he filed the motion to set aside verdict because “there were several things that just didn’t add up.”
In his motion, Guillory alleges primarily “there were ‘multiple people with guns’ congregating at the scene where spent cartridges were found. No credible evidence was produced by the state to link these spent cartridges to the defendant” Wilson.
Guillory’s allegations in his motion also include the role in the incident of Wilson’s brother Tiberrious and witness testimony during the trial.
Guillory argued the verdict “is solely based on the Assistant District Attorney’s (Marcus Fontenot) Hollywood handsomeness and persuasiveness but not a scintilla of evidence.”
In a phone interview about the supposed “Hollywood handsomeness,” Guillory said, “There was some reason the jury ruled the way they did, and I thought the charm of the assistant district attorney played a role in that. He’s a charming man and a good looking man. I can see folks on the jury being mesmerized.”
“I appreciate Mr. Guillory’s compliment,” replied Fontenot, “but it’s the evidence that convicted Mr. Wilson.”
Also filed on Wilson’s behalf was a motion for new trial. Guillory alleged in this second motion “the trial court erred by admitting into evidence the statements of two criminal snitches who, 10 months after Ms. Weston’s shooting, suddenly experienced pangs of conscience and came forward to give self-serving, non-credible statements.”
Guillory, by phone, said these eye witnesses were available in the courtroom during the trial “but did not want to testify because they were lying and did want to be subjected to cross-examination.”
After Wilson’s sentencing date, his attorney will file an appeal with the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Lake Charles. Guillory hopes the appeal will clear his client’s name.
“I genuinely believe this young man did not fire the weapon that fired the bullet that caused the death of Ms. Weston,” said Guillory via telephone. “I think eventually justice will be done. I believe he will be found not guilty, and I really want us all to look very carefully at this investigation so that we can find the person who did this dastardly deed.”
The prosecution; however, is still convinced Wilson is their man. “We’re confident the evidence will sustain their conviction,” said Fontenot.
Evangeline Parish District Attorney Trent Brignac said an appeal is the defendant’s right, but “most of them get denied.” He added, “We’ll just play it out and see what happens.”