A verdict has been reached in the Kayla Giles trial in Rapides Parish.
The jury has found Giles guilty of second-degree murder and obstruction of justice for the Sept. 8, 2018 deadly shooting of her estranged husband, Thomas Coutee, Jr., in an Alexandria Walmart parking lot during a custody exchange. The couple was meeting so that their daughter could attend a birthday party with Coutee, Jr.
Sentencing will be held on March 28 at 1:30 p.m.
Closing arguments began at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29 in the Kayla Giles trial at the Rapides Parish Courthouse.
During closing arguments, the prosecution has an opportunity to argue twice, once in an introductory address to the jury and again in a rebuttal to the defense’s argument.
Let’s start with the Prosecution’s first address:
Assistant Attorney General Brooke Harris emphasized the preparedness of the defendant, Kayla Giles. One point repeated yesterday, was that Giles was dropping her kids off with someone she alleged to be an abuser she feared, a man who didn’t have custody of two of those children.
In that preparedness, Harris alleges Giles “could’ve really prepared more” on her ability to cry.
Harris emphasized the ongoing custody battle between Giles and Coutee, Jr., saying Coutee, Jr. was “a man sick and tired of abuse.”
Harris also highlighted Giles’ voice recorder, calling it “the most interesting piece of evidence.”
Harris said, “You see the real Kayla. Not the woman whose got her head down,” referencing Giles in the courtroom, “with no emotion, scribbling on a piece of paper for the past nine days.”
In closing, Harris asked the jury to “call (Giles’) bluff.”
Defense attorney George Higgins began his closing argument by addressing Harris’ preparedness point, saying, “Kayla, being ex-military, was prepared.”
Having her be ex-military, Higgins emphasized that Giles had PTSD, saying she “can’t help” being emotionless.
Higgins said that the prosecution’s case “is that she’s a bad case.” He told the jury, again, that all other crime evidence doesn’t matter, saying “that’s not good stuff, but it’s got nothing to do with why we’re here.”
Higgins waved away the obstruction of justice charge, holding that “she never did anything in this case to hide evidence.”
