The Dallas Morning News
Dallas County jurors deliberated for about two hours Monday before finding Randy Halprin guilty of capital murder in the death of an Irving police officer on Christmas Eve 2000.
The punishment phase of the trial now begins. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
Randy Halprin Mr. Halprin, 25, was one of seven men who escaped from the Connally Unit prison near San Antonio in December 2000.
The group ended up in Irving, where a robbery at an Oshman’s SuperSports USA store turned deadly.
Officer Aubrey Hawkins was responding to a suspicious activity call when he came upon the men. Witnesses for the prosecution testified that the 29-year-old officer was shot at least 11 times, and that bullets recovered from the scene have been linked to at least five of the escapees’ weapons.
Aubrey Hawkins Defense attorneys have suggested that Mr. Halprin played only a minor role in the robbery. Mr. Halprin, who took the stand in his defense last week, acknowledged under cross examination that he carried a loaded weapon into the store.
“I felt like I didn’t have a choice,” he said, adding that he never fired the weapon.
Four other escapees have been convicted and sentenced to death for their role in Officer Hawkins’ death. Another is scheduled to go to trial later this year. The seventh escapee committed suicide.