WACO (ABP) — A jury in Waco found former Baptist minister Matt Baker guilty of murder after more than seven hours of deliberation Jan. 20.
Prosecutors called 28 witnesses, including Vanessa Bulls, who identified herself as Baker's former mistress. She testified that Baker planned to murder his wife, Kari, and make it appear to be a suicide.
The defense called a single witness, an expert who discussed DNA evidence. Matt Baker, who gave several high-profile media interviews before the trial proclaiming his innocence, did not testify in his own defense.
The verdict by a jury of seven women and five men ended a six-day trial. The penalty phase is scheduled to begin Jan. 21. Baker could receive life in prison.
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