Jury finds Neal Bland guilty of capital murder in Air Jordans case
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It took a Harris County jury just two hours to find Neal Bland guilty of capital murder.
It was his 18th birthday. December 21, 2012. Investigators say Bland and three others followed Joshua Woods home after he purchased limited-release Nike Air Jordan shoes at Willowbrook Mall.
After the judge read the verdict Bland appeared to roll his eyes, an act Wood's family perceived as a lack of remorse. "Just angry. Now you about to spend the rest of your life in prison and you can't even give the victim's family an ounce of remorse," said Joshlyn Walls.
Defense attorney Kurt Wentz argued that Bland was guilty only of a lesser charge, claiming Bland never intended to kill Woods. "I simply, as a matter of conscience, feel it should have been felony murder," said Wentz.
Prosecutors say the law is clear. "When you're committing an aggravated robbery with a gun and you intentionally fire at the victim 14 times that your intent was to kill and that that is capital murder," said Assistant Harris County District Attorney Angela Weltin.
Bland automatically is sentenced to life in prison. The capital murder conviction means Bland will never become eligible for parole. Woods' family says that's little solace. Walls says Bland "...has the rest of his life to think about what he did."
Woods' mother had a chance to speak briefly in court following the verdict. Dazie Williams told Bland: "I pray for you. I pray for your family. I have been looking at you for an ounce of remorse... " then she concluded, saying "Here you can't even look me in the face."
Williams has been outspoken since her son's murder. She says the limited release of the popular sneakers creates a demand that too often leads to violence.
