HOUSTON — A week after convicting former Houston police officer Gerald Goines of two counts of murder, jurors began hearing testimony in the punishment phase.
The ex-cop was charged with two counts of felony murder in the 2019 shooting deaths of Dennis Tuttle and Rhogena Nicholas. The couple was gunned down during a botched drug raid at their Harding Street home.
Goines, who turned 61 on Wednesday, could get up to life in prison for each conviction.
The witnesses included Tuttle's son Ryan who said his dad "had a hard life. He testified that Tuttle was injured in the Navy and medically discharged but suffered from pain for the rest of his life.
Tuttle said when he first heard about the Harding Street shooting on the news, he didn't think it could be his dad's house because he was "pro-police."
“The idea that he was laughing about shooting officers is absurd," Ryan said. “He was acting in what he believed was self-defense."
He said his dad would "be hurt" by how the defense portrayed him in the trial.
Nicholas's sister-in-law also took the stand. Patricia Nicholas described "Reggie" [Rhogena] as a "very caring person."
“It was just devastating to know she’s not here anymore," she testified.
Nicholas said her husband, the victim's brother, died three years after the deadly raid.
“The biggest burden on his life was knowing his sister was murdered for no reason," Nicholas said.
The defense called Goines' older sister to the stand who testified her brother had a good heart and became interested in law enforcement as a teenager. He was 18 when he joined HPD.
“He was excited, extremely excited," Della Goines said. “He dedicated his life to serving the public.”
The widow of former Houston Mayor Bob Lanier also testified for the defense. Elyse Lanier said Goines lived with them 20 years ago when the mayor had a knee replacement. She said the two men had a unique bond.
“Gerald is the best at getting anything done," Lanier said. "He’s like a gentle giant.”
Lanier said she was unaware that Goines was disciplined for two previous shootings and that nothing would change her opinion about him.
The couple's daughter, Courtney Lanier, also took the stand in Goines' defense.
“The defense is all about mitigation. It’s all about letting this jury know that Goines was a good son, that he’s been a loving friend and that he’s been supportive in his community so that they hope they will give him a lesser sentence as a result," KHOU 11 legal analyst Carmen Roe said.
