AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- A man convicted in Austin, Texas, of killing a woman and her son refused Tuesday to attend the penalty phase of his trial, court officials said.
A sheriff's deputy testified Albert Segura said he preferred to watch TV and make phone calls to his family, the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman reported.
Jurors found Segura guilty Monday of killing Patricia Smith, 51, and her son, Billy Gene Ferguson, 28. Testimony in the penalty phase began Monday afternoon.
Segura's lawyers talked to him for 20 minutes Tuesday morning and reported back that he was still unwilling to come to the courtroom. He told them he was not feeling well.
District Judge Jon Wisser, after discussing options with lawyers for prosecution and defense, decided simply to proceed without explaining Segura's absence to the jury.
Segura shot Ferguson and Smith because they were sharing a house with a man he had a problem with. That man was also shot but survived.
