SAN ANTONIO – Update (5 p.m., June 29):
A San Antonio man was sentenced Thursday to 99 years in prison for killing his aunt four years ago.
Michael Phipps was found guilty of murder and manslaughter in the death of Becky Ibarra, 65, on June 4, 2019.
Jurors in the 399th District Court deliberated for about an hour before deciding Phipps’ punishment.
Original:
A San Antonio man has been convicted of killing his aunt in 2019.
Michael Phipps was found guilty of murder and manslaughter on Thursday in the 399th District Court. The sentencing phase of his trial starts on Thursday afternoon.
Phipps was on trial for killing Becky Ibarra, 65, on June 4, 2019.
In court on Wednesday, the jury viewed an interrogation video in which Phipps said the killing was in self-defense and an accident.
In the video, Phipps told police over and over that “I didn’t mean for it to happen.”
Phipps explained to police that Ibarra had a history of bullying him and his mother, who both lived with his grandmother.
“She will push you and put her hands on your,” Phipps said. “Becky is a large woman and takes martial arts.”
On the day of her death, Phipps said that Ibarra came over and was trying to take a money card away from his mother.
Phipps said that he tried to tell Ibarra to stop when he said she attacked him and pinned him against a table.
It was at that point Phipps said that he took his gun out of his pocket and he claims the hammer got caught in his pocket and that as they continued to struggle it accidentally went off.
“I didn’t shoot Becky,” Phipps said. “I felt like I was defending myself and my mom.”
In closing arguments on Thursday, prosecutor Bridgett Clay told the jury that self-defense claim didn’t add up.
“There were no injuries on the defendant,” Clay said. “He didn’t have any defensive wounds showing that he fought back.”
Clay also mentioned that Phipps’ mom had previously told police that she gave her card to Ibarra so she could help her buy groceries.
Ibarra died of a single gunshot wound to the chest that was shot at close range.
The bullet stayed lodged inside Ibarra and tore a part of her heart which caused her death.
Phipps is facing 5 to 99 years or life in prison.
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