Bernadette Perusquia is Found "Guilty" of Murder
By
KGNS News
Story Created:
Dec 20, 2011 at 11:43 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Dec 21, 2011
After seven days of trial, today Bernadette Perusquia was found guilty of murder.
A jury decided there was no evidence to support her allegations of killing her husband, Juan Perusquia, in self-defense. She claimed she was a victim of domestic violence and her husband had attacked her before and she killed him in self-defense..
Carolina garcia was at the trial today, and has our top story.
Bernadette Perrusquia is found guilty of murdering her husband.
Her allegations of being a victim of domestic were not enough for the jury that found her guilty.
It was the end of an 8 year chapter for the family of Juan Perusquia. On May 14, 2003 Juan Perusquia was killed by his own wife. Soon after that, the case was taken to court and was ruled a mistrial. But 7 days ago a second trial began, and today his wife, Bernadette Perusquia was found guilty of murder. District Attorney says:
"We are very pleased, that the jury here in Webb County were able to see through her false claim that was being raised here, and that Mr. Perusquia's life was taken without justification"
During the trial, Perrusquia claimed she was a victim of domestic violence and killed her husband in self defense.
Alaniz says, the jury did not find evidence to support her accusations:
"Because there was a false claim of domestic violence that was being made by ms. perusquia."
After Judge Joe Lopez read the jury’s veredict, the defense brought witnesses including her 13 yr old daughter to testify on Perusquia’s behalf, in an effort to get probation instead of jail time.
Bernadette Perusquia faces 5 to 99 years to life in prison, and Alaniz says domestic vilence is not taken lightly in the State of Texas:"Let me say this, domestic violence is a very serious crime in the state of texas and the law does provide for self defense. but there was no evidence that the murder, on this case, the killing on this case was justified"
The family of the victim says they have mixed emotions on the case, but are happy with the veredict "with mixed emotions, sorrow, happiness, because we are looking for closure. but closure depends on the family to start, slowly, together."
For them this isn't over, there is a little boy, the son of Bernadette and Juan Perrusquia, who’s custody hasn't been decided yet.bernadette.
At this time the jury is still deliberating on the punishment bernadette Perusquia will receive .
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Years Later said on Tuesday, Apr 23 at 7:51 PM
Wow, it has been almost 9 years. Time heals some wounds but others still hurt. May he be thinking of us as we think of him.
119048951Still Think of Him said on Wednesday, Sep 19 at 10:09 PM
Juan had his good days and bad days- I know I lived them with him. However, regardless, there is no justification for murder. May he rest in peace and always remembered for his good days.
102264732Laredoan said on Thursday, Jan 12 at 11:35 PM
It is so interesting to read the comments a few selected have posted. Juan was not the abuser and the jury saw through her lies. Ordinary laredo people who did not know either party heard the evidence, deliberated the evidence and concluded it was murder. There was no justification. The first wife did not marry Juan's brother from austin. You speak as if you personally knew Juan. If you did, you would have known that when he arrived from Korea, he had scars on his right side of the face, compliments of his first wife, an abuser as well. A pre planned trip to disneyland is what Juan would have wanted the family to do. He would not want for the family to cancel the trip. And last, they are not the same couple that came out in the newscast a couple of weeks prior to this incident. SHE was not a victim of domestic violence. It is an insult to the true victims of domestic violence. Ask Bernies ex husband, how many times she pulled the same gun that killed Juan on him. Ask him!!
79803792RIP Cousin said on Monday, Jan 2 at 5:37 PM
No one ever knows the truth of how a couple live behind closed doors...but when one collects guns and knives, then kills and files unjustified claims, the door has been opened to the killers true person and self-righteousness. Let the Lord do the judging, but the unjust and liars will serve their time. Descanse mi primito, que Dios te tenga en Su Gloria....
79274978"Honest Abe" said on Friday, Dec 23 at 10:06 AM
You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time. ---- Abraham Lincoln
78875692Laredo Watcher said on Friday, Dec 23 at 9:10 AM
Personally I didn't buy her justified homicide story and obviously neither did the DA or the jury. I mean we all know how soft the DA is on females especially when they are mothers of young children, but because of that same softness then you have those women that think they will and can get away with murder. Good call DA Chilo Alaniz in putting this case to a jury. Usually the DA offers a plea agreement and this woman obviously thought she would get sympathy from a jury, but they obviously didn't believe her story. Good Bless the true victims in this case regardless of who did what to whom, the children have lost both mother and father and soon well have to endure a custody battle between the grandparents as well..So sad for them..
78872976Parent said on Thursday, Dec 22 at 8:27 PM
I will keep the children in my prayers. It's hard for any parent to loose a child but just like the Perusquia family lost a son/father so did the parents of of Bernadette. We cant judge but we can forgive and pray.
78854787Anonymous said on Thursday, Dec 22 at 1:35 PM
Who would take a disney vacation two weeks after the loss of a son?
78836084Anonymous said on Thursday, Dec 22 at 1:32 PM
Yes just ask Juans family how they would be hit as children with branches and how he abused his first wife from another country and had no where to run so decided to run away to Austin with his Juans brother and later married the brother. Wow one woman married to two brothers because she had no one to turn to yet abused
78835953Anonymous said on Wednesday, Dec 21 at 11:30 PM
At Aimme: Blame the DA? For what? It was a JURY TRAIL, which means you should blame the defense attorney for not making a better case. In the end 12 people judged and sentenced her.
78808878r.i.p. said on Wednesday, Dec 21 at 10:28 PM
yes Juan was an angel... they should name a church after him. he was a saint. he could never hurt a fly.
78806418RIP Juan said on Wednesday, Dec 21 at 9:42 PM
Anybody who knew Juan knows he was a good person. Juan always feared for his life until his death. Bernadette was an evil witch who the jurors saw the lies through her. She got what she deserved. If she was a good person, where were her friends to speak on her behalf.
78804744Anonymous said on Wednesday, Dec 21 at 8:46 PM
Juan was very abusive and scary. He could drag a woman across the room by her hair. He could punch a woman in her stomach several times until she would collapse. He had drinking problem. I can believe that they found Bernadette guilty. This is so unfair. So unfair.
788025471 said on Wednesday, Dec 21 at 7:03 PM
Move out and call the police, or kill someone. What would you choose?
78798544Anonymous said on Wednesday, Dec 21 at 4:12 PM
I have a gut feeling she is guilty . Here is what i believe based on her character which she has been notoriously known for when she was younger. She was one of those richy rich girls who always got what she wanted, she was a fatal to every man she dated, she would stalk them too. So I believe she made this whole cacamania BS about being a victim of domestic violence.
78790307Watz up said on Wednesday, Dec 21 at 3:28 PM
At least she will never fall victim to another man for the rest of her life!!
78787936Anonymous said on Wednesday, Dec 21 at 12:43 PM
I know, but before the shooting, they came out in the news for what I mentioned before.
78778142Aimee said on Wednesday, Dec 21 at 11:21 AM
So sad that this woman who has children was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of an abusive partner and Kristine Sandoval (the daughter of an attorney) gets 2 years probation for leaving a man mentally and physically disabled for life, only gets 2 years probation. A woman defending herself and her children gets the maximum punishment and this drunk gets 2 years probation. She might not have killed someone but she has ruined the person’s life. Where’s the justice here Mr. DA? Two very different cases with very different outcomes and life changing consequences. Yet, one gets to parade free and the other won’t get to see her children grow. How SAD!!!!
78773077Csatx said on Wednesday, Dec 21 at 10:16 AM
No, this happened back in 2003. Bernadette was a victim of domestic violence and defended her life and the life of her children.
78769184Memory said on Wednesday, Dec 21 at 12:10 AM
Weren't they the same couple that came out in this newscast a couple weeks or months before the murder because the wife, Bernadette, was chasing the husband threatning to kill him, and he found refuge at the police station?
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