Aug. 14
TEXAS:
Emotional testimony kicks off punishment phase of death penalty trial for
slayings of Christian music producers
Jean Swan told jurors she's not the same person since her son Stephen Swan
and his friend Matthew Butler were gunned down outside their Garland music
studio.
Jean Swan started crying right after she took the stand in the punishment
phase of the capital murder trial of James Broadnax. Prosecutors are
seeking the death penalty.
"My family is just crushed," she said. "My youngest son said we don't look
the same. We don't sound the same."
Jean Swan said her son had just recovered from cancer and spent his time
helping others. He also taught himself how to play the guitar, bass, piano
and drums. He was learning the harmonica when he died.
"He loved his country and the Lord, and he was just so smart," she said.
Teresa Butler, Matthew Butler's mother, also gave emotional testimony.
Matthew Butler was married and left behind 2 young children.
She told jurors about the last time she saw her son.
She saw him on Tuesday and he was killed in the early morning hours on a
Thursday.
She had lost weight and he grabbed her and said "What are you doing? You
look good."
She also said that he put stakes in her garden to keep the tomatoes off
the ground. The stakes are still there.
Teresa Butler said the day after the slayings, Matthew's wife went into
the music studio.
The song the men had listened to last was still up on the computer. It was
a song Stephen wrote called "We All Die Before Our Time."
(source: Dallas Morning News)