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NEW BOSTON, Texas-Quadreuy Flowers received a 99-year prison term Friday from the jury that found him guilty of murder Thursday for killing a man he found in the company of a former girlfriend.
The jury also assessed Flowers a $10,000 fine.
Flowers sat with his head down as public defender Chad Crowl asked the jury to consider Flowers' mental illness and mental retardation when sentencing him for shooting Derius Carter, 20, to death in a second-floor unit of the Brighton Manor Apartments on Nov. 4 in Texarkana, Texas.
But after the verdict was read and the jury was released by 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart, Flowers made statements that led Bowie County sheriff's deputies to surround him and stick closely by his side as Carter's grandmother gave a victim impact statement.
"I forgive you. I have to forgive you to move forward," Kennie Carter said. "I'll never know what he would have become ... I'll never see the children he wanted to have. You took that away from me."
Kennie Carter expressed condolences to Flowers' family, noting that they have lost a son now, too.
Kennie Carter spoke of an "epidemic" of violence and said she believes the jury's verdict echoes her desire to see it stop.
"The verdict speaks not only to you, but it speaks volumes to other young men," Kennie Carter said. "I pray for you."
Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp said the jury sends a message that Bowie County citizens are tough on crime.
"We are grateful to the jurors for giving this family some peace and justice," Crisp said. "This verdict won't undo the loss of Derius Carter, but it does drive home the gravity of this defendant's actions and the irrevocable nature of deadly violence."
As deputies led Flowers from the courtroom, he made an offensive gesture with his hand toward Crisp and her co-prosecutor, Samantha Oglesby.
During the punishment phase Thursday, Jessica McGraw testified that she and her boyfriend saw Flowers scale the wall to Duckett's second-floor balcony, throw a brick through a window and enter Duckett's apartment. McGraw said her boyfriend chased Flowers away.
Members of the Texarkana, Texas, Police Department testified that Flowers was charged with vandalism for throwing a brick through Duckett's sliding glass door. Later the same night in September 2012, Flowers returned and broke more windows, witnesses testified.
Texarkana Independent School District police officer Brad Ervin testified that Flowers threatened to cut off his testicles and shove them down the throat of the principal at an alternative learning campus Flowers attended because of discipline problems he exhibited while enrolled on the main campus of Texas High School.
TTPD Officer Jake Klar testified that he responded to a call to Duckett's apartment Oct. 31, 2012, just four days before Carter's murder.
Klar told the jury Duckett and a friend reported that Flowers had threatened to beat her and prevent her son from boarding a school bus before walking away. A short time later, the two women found Flowers in Duckett's bathroom. Klar said he charged Flowers with criminal trespass.
Texarkana, Ark., Police Detective Tom Briggs testified that Flowers was arrested for aggravated robbery after he and a co-defendant struck a man, broke his jaw in two places and stole $100 from him. Flowers, a juvenile at the time, was certified to stand trial as an adult in that case, Briggs testified.
Flowers was 19 when he fired the shot that killed Carter.
Crowl, who represents Flowers along with First Assistant Public Defender Will Williams, questioned psychologist Dr. Roger House about his opinion of Flowers.
House told the jury he believes Flowers is borderline mentally retarded and suffers from bi-polar disorder. House said Flowers is aggressive, impulsive and has difficulty managing anger. House said Flowers' behavior is more controlled when he is regularly taking medication for his mental health issues.
"Mr. Flowers had very little going for him," House said. "His total package sets him up for all kinds of problems."
Under cross examination by Oglesby, House said Flowers would benefit from a structured environment.
"Would you agree that prison is a structured environment?" Oglesby asked.
House replied affirmatively.
Flowers' former probation officer testified that Flowers has been in trouble for hitting his mother and pulling a knife on his sister.
"This isn't your average teenager. This isn't your average man," Oglesby said in closing remarks. "This is a criminal."
Flowers must serve at least 30 years of his sentence before he becomes parole-eligible.