2011-10-16 Banks

Amarillo man avoids death penalty

Relatives of Stephanie Beard and Daniel Brittain wept quietly Wednesday as they gazed across a packed courtroom at the man in the pink-striped jumpsuit.

Minutes later, 29-year-old Wilbert Banks pleaded guilty to killing Beard and Brittain. The April 2009 crime left both families reeling.^[1]

"You've stolen my son from me, and you don't understand the impact you've had on this family," David Brittain, Daniel's father, said before ordering Banks to look him in the eyes.

Judge John Board sentenced Banks to life imprisonment on a capital murder charge and 10 years in prison for assault with a deadly weapon. The plea spared Banks from execution - the possible penalty for a capital murder conviction.

At 6:18 a.m. April 18, 2009, police arrived at Beard's duplex at 3010 Westhaven Drive to find her and Brittain, both 24, dead.

Police said Banks was looking for Natasha Coil, the mother of one of his children. Following a sometimes-violent relationship with Banks, Coil was staying with Beard and Brittain. After firing the fatal shots at those two, Banks pointed a gun at Coil, but the weapon jammed, police said.

The search for Banks covered a large swath of the city.

The hunt included a SWAT team raiding an apartment in northeast Amarillo and police closing off two residential blocks near the Bivins neighborhood as officers closed in.

Hours after the shooting, Banks surrendered to police at his home on Herman Street.

"You've taken your own life," said Stephanie's mother, Tina. "Stephanie died a hero protecting her friend. I forgive you, and I hope if nothing else you have a relationship with God."

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors agreed Wednesday to drop two pending charges against Banks in Potter County, including assaulting a family member and attempted escape, defense attorneys said.

Randall County Criminal District Attorney James Farren said Banks' lawyers approached prosecutors about plea options about a month ago. The family rejected most of the defense's suggestions, which included pleading guilty to murder, Farren said.

Most members of the two families decided to pursue a life sentence without parole, instead of taking the case to trial and enduring possible appeals, Farren said.

John Beard, Stephanie's father, made it clear in court that he disagreed with the deal. "I wanted them to kill you," Beard said.

Man sentenced to life in prison without parole in double homicide

Amarillo, TX - There was an intense moment in a Randall County courtroom as the families of two murder victims had the chance to talk to the accused killer.

Wilbert Banks shot and killed Stephanie Beard and Daniel Brittain  in 2009.

Banks was charged with capital murder, murder and aggravated assault.

Because of his charges Banks faced the death penalty.

To spare his life, his attorneys came to an agreement.

"Anytime the defense approaches us with a plea offer, we feel we have an ethical obligation to share that with the victim, victim's family and recently the defense began to talk to us about a plea, life without parole," said District Attorney James Farren.

Farren adds they accepted the plea agreement to spare the two victim's families from having to go through a trial.

"If it weren't life without the possibility of parole, I don't think the family would have been as pleased with it, but the fact that he will die in prison, never, ever, be released is a big factor for them," said Farren.

While in the courtroom, Beard's and Britain's families stood up to tell banks the pain he caused them.

A man sitting on Bank's side then stood up and made a threatening remark to one of the victim's fathers, he was taken out by court officials.^[2]

"He is a man, the defendant calls his father,  biologically he is not actually, but he sort of raised him, to be honest I think the man is inebriated, I think he is drunk, and he came to the courtroom in pretty bad shape to begin with," added Farren.

 Whether that man is charged with contempt of court is up to the judge.

Farren says he doesn't think the two families will ever have closure but it brings them comfort knowing he is never going to be released.