Click below for our brief on today's closing argument and the press release from the DA's office.
Our story from this morning:
Closing arguments in Douglas Taylor trial
In their closing arguments Monday, prosecutors said Douglas Taylor started the fatal fire in 2009 because his ex-girlfriend disrespected him.
“That is not OK with someone like Douglas Taylor,” said Deputy District Attorney Caryn Datz.
She said jurors should pay particular attention to Taylor’s former roommate, who said Taylor talked about fire often.
“Who talks about fire on a regular basis unless you are fascinated with it?” she said.
Taylor’s defense argued that it was friend Coy Dunn, not Taylor, who bore most of the responsibilty for the blaze that ripped through the apartment building on Emporia and left Jose Martinez dead.
They said Dunn looked up to Taylor and wanted to impress him.
“He lights that building on fire because he was trying to get respect from Mr. Taylor,” said public defender Janene McCabe.
She said Taylor was not aware of Dunn’s plan and was sitting in a car a block away when Dunn started the fire.
Dunn accepted a plea agreement and testified against Dunn last week.
And the press release:
For Immediate Release
NEWS RELEASE
September 27, 2010
Contact: Krista Flannigan, 303-906-5884
Ex-Boyfriend Found Guilty of Burning Down Apartment Complex, Killing A Man
17th Judicial District Attorney Don Quick announced today that Douglas Taylor (dob: 05/01/1975) was found guilty for burning down an apartment complex, killing one man and injuring others.
Evidence was presented at trial that on May 28, 2009 at approximately 1:35 AM, Aurora Police Officers were on patrol in the area of Emporia Street in Adams County when they heard screaming and loud commotion from an apartment building. The officers observed residents breaking out windows and jumping to the ground as the building was engulfed in smoke and fire. While attempting to enter the building, officers heard a loud explosion at the north side of the complex. After gaining limited entry into the common hallway, officers were able to remove a downed resident, later identified as Jose De Jesus Martinez Espinoza (dob: 04/27/1957). Mr. Martinez transported to University Hospital where he was pronounced dead the next morning from his injuries of third degree burns over 90% of his body.
Witnesses testified that Taylor believed his ex-girlfriend was in the Emporia Street apartments visiting a friend that day. One witness testified Taylor discussed starting a fire one week prior to this event. Another witnesses testified that Taylor was known to threaten to burn down people’s houses when he was angry. The investigation by the Aurora Fire Department determined that the fire had been set deliberately.
Taylor’s accomplice, Coy Dunn (dob: 12/07/1987) testified that he assisted Taylor in obtaining the gasoline to start the fire, accompanied Taylor to the apartment building and witnessed Taylor ignite the fire. Dunn pled guilty on August 27, 2010 to Second Degree Murder and Attempted First Degree Murder. He will be sentenced on October 21, 2010.
After two hours of deliberation, an Adams County jury found Taylor guilty of First Degree Felony Murder (F1), First Degree Murder (F1), 12 counts of Attempted First Degree Murder (F2), and First Degree Arson (F3).
District attorney Quick states, “I am grateful to the Aurora Police Department for their investigation and for the outstanding work of my prosecutors, Tim McCormack and Caryn Datz.”
Adams County District Court Judge Patrick Murphy immediately sentenced Taylor to life in prison plus 275 years.
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