LEE COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - Sherry Guzman was found guilty of felony murder and aggravated assault in the death of her husband, Robert Guzman, after less than two hours of jury deliberations. Guzman was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Before the verdict came, the jury of twelve sent a request to the court, asking for the zip tie to be removed from the gun so they could take a closer look at the murder weapon.

>> READ MORE: SHERRY GUZMAN TRIAL: Daughter testifies about couple’s relationship <<

Victim impact statements delivered in court

Guzman remained stoic as the verdict was read. Sentencing began immediately after the verdict, and victim impact statements were delivered from both sides of the aisle.

Robert Guzman’s son spoke about the impact of his father’s death.

“My father never got to see me graduate with my bachelor’s degree,” he said. “I always wanted him to be proud of the man that I had become. I want everyone here to know that my father was not just a name in this courtroom. He was loved. He was a son, a father, a veteran, a friend, and a good man.”

Guzman’s daughter also addressed the court, directing her statement to Sherry Guzman.

“No daughter or son should ever have to sit in the courtroom and hear the details of how their father died,” she said. “Nothing will undo the pain this has caused. Not only for our family, but for yours as well. Accountability matters.”

Defendant’s son speaks in support of mother

On the other side of the aisle, Sherry Guzman’s son, Robert Doss, spoke in support of his mother, admitting he is a recovering drug addict and accepting blame for some of the couple’s problems.

“She’s always been there for me,” Doss said. “I may have caused a lot of problems that they have. Her and Robert loved each other.”

Judge hands down sentence

Lee County Superior Court Judge Jimmie H. Brown sentenced Sherry Guzman to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

“There’s no way there was going to be a happy outcome to this case,” Judge Brown said. “I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to sentence you to life without the possibility of parole. I think of the limited choices I have, I’m going to take the more lenient of the two.”

Guzman testifies

Thursday, Guzman took the stand to give her account of what happened the night her husband was killed. She testified that she has long struggled with severe depression and anxiety.

Guzman told the court that the couple was watching a television show that mentioned reincarnation when a comment from her husband prompted her to go to their bedroom, where a gun was kept. She claimed she was going to kill herself with it when the gun went off, and her husband was shot by accident.

Throughout her testimony, Guzman repeatedly said she has gaps in her memory and cannot recall the exact details of what happened that night.

When questioned on the stand, Guzman said she did not point a gun at her husband.

Defense Questioning

Q: Did you point a gun at Robert?

A: No, I did not.

Q: How do you know that?

A: Because I wouldn’t do that.

Q: Is it possible that you were sitting down next to Robert?

A: It’s possible.

Q: Is it possible that you pointed a gun at yourself?

A: At myself, yes.

Q: And is it possible that he grabbed that gun from you?

A: That is possible.

Q: Is it possible that the gun went off?

A: It’s possible.

Q: Are you telling the jury that that’s what happened tonight?

A: I don’t remember. It’s a possibility.

The state argued that Guzman intentionally shot her husband and that the evidence proves, beyond a reasonable doubt, not only that she did so, but that her claim of having no memory of the event is an attempt to escape responsibility for her actions.

“She has trauma from her childhood. And that’s unfortunate. But the law... The law still applies to her. And she still should be held accountable for all the actions that she does in her body,” prosecutor Cania Brown-Gordon said.

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