Dallas

North Texas man found ‘guilty of racing' in connection to crash, punishment deliberations continue Friday

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It was an emotionally draining day in court as a convicted felon now waits for his sentence. Ricky Jackson was street racing when he caused a wreck, killing 9-year-old Olivia Mendez. NBC 5’s Vince Sims has more of the heartwrenching testimony.

A jury found a North Texas man "guilty of racing on a highway as charged in the indictment" Thursday morning. The 2019 street racing crash in Pleasant Grove left a 9-year-old dead.

The jury came back with the unanimous verdict after close to two hours of deliberating Thursday morning.

Jurors started sentencing deliberations late Thursday. They will continue deliberations Friday morning.

First to take the stand during sentencing phase was Olivia Mendez's mother Marisol Gomez. Through tears she told jurors how she found out her daughter didn't survive.

"I'm in bed and I look around and I'm like, 'where is Olivia?', Gomez said. "Everyone just got really quiet and my husband said Olivia's gone. The next time I ever saw her was in a casket. A Pink casket"

Ricky Jackson was charged with racing on a highway and causing serious bodily injury after he crashed his orange Dodge Challenger into a sedan on May 24, 2019.

Olivia Mendez, 9, died on the scene after she was ejected from her family's vehicle. Police said Jackson and two other drivers were racing each other on Lake June Road.

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Marisol Gomez, the mother of 9-year-old Olivia Mendez who was killed in the crash, took the stand Thursday in the punishment phase of the trial.

During the punishment phase on Thursday, Jackson became visibly emotional and could be seen with family members surrounding him during the court's lunch break.

While the defendant, Jackson, did not testify in court during the trial, prosecutors showed a video recording of Jackson being questioned by Dallas detectives on the night of May 24, 2019.

Jackson's wife Connie Jackson took the stand to share what he told her about the deadly crash.

"I am so sorry," wife Connie Jackson said through tears. "If I could give my life for your little girl I would do it."

Witness testimony wrapped up just before 4:00 p.m. Wednesday after Jackson’s wife, Connie took the stand. She told the jury her husband was remorseful for what occurred that night.

After listening to closing arguments, the jury began deliberations Wednesday afternoon but went home without reaching a verdict in the case. Deliberations continued on Thursday morning with the verdict following soon after.

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