Jurors in the manslaughter trial of former Missouri City officer Blademir Viveros spent Friday hearing raw, emotional testimony from grieving family members, then stepped outside the Fort Bend County courthouse to confront the twisted metal at the center of the case. After viewing the mangled vehicles from the June crash, both prosecutors and defense attorneys rested their cases. The trial is scheduled to resume Monday, when closing arguments are expected shortly after noon.
According to KTRK/ABC13, the judge agreed to let jurors see the crash damage in person following the families’ testimony. The station reports that with both sides now officially rested, lawyers will return Monday to deliver their summations and address the charges the panel will consider.
Crash And The Victims
The deadly collision happened on June 20, 2024, on Cartwright Road, when a Missouri City patrol SUV slammed into a Toyota Corolla as the Corolla pulled out of the Dollar Tree parking lot at 1681 Cartwright Road. The impact killed 53-year-old Angela Stewart and her 16-year-old son, Mason Stewart, according to Click2Houston.
Hours after the wreck, a man later identified as Michael Hawkins was found unrestrained and unconscious in the back of the patrol vehicle. He was hospitalized, became partially paralyzed and later died, Houston Public Media reports. Hawkins’ family subsequently filed a civil lawsuit against the city and the Missouri City Police Department.
Prosecutors’ Account
Prosecutors told jurors that Viveros was driving about 107 mph while responding to an emergency call without his lights and sirens activated, a central allegation in the state’s manslaughter case, according to KTRK/ABC13. That claim, along with disputes over internal investigative documents, fueled tense exchanges between the prosecution and defense earlier in the week.
Legal Context And What’s At Stake
Viveros faces multiple criminal counts, including manslaughter and aggravated assault allegations. Prosecutors say his conduct could result in a prison sentence that stretches for decades if he is convicted, according to Houston Public Media. The Fort Bend District Attorney’s Office has said it will review Hawkins’ autopsy and the trial evidence and could pursue new or upgraded charges if the findings justify that move…