Mike Ramos case focus of APD officer's sentencing hearing on separate police shooting

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Prosecutors plan to call their remaining four witnesses Thursday in the sentencing hearing for the deadly conduct case of APD officer Christopher Taylor.

A jury found Taylor guilty of deadly conduct earlier this month in the deadly 2019 police shooting of Mauris DeSilva.

Police shot and killed DeSilva in a common area of his downtown condo complex on July 31, 2019. Taylor and three other officers responded after 911 callers reported DeSilva walking around, holding a knife to his neck. 

You can view body camera video of the shooting here.

So far, the bulk of the sentencing testimony hasn't been related to DeSilva's case, but to the 2020 deadly police shooting of Mike Ramos. Taylor was charged with murder in Ramos' case. His trial ended with a hung jury and a subsequent grand jury no-billed the case, so Taylor is cleared in the Ramos case.

Witnesses have included Ramos' mother, a witness of the shooting and several officers. The State's questions have been about tactical decisions made during the Ramos case and the level of threat officers felt.

Prosecutors can't answer questions during an active case. Their full reasoning behind using the Ramos case in the DeSilva sentencing is expected to come to light when they present their closing arguments at the end of sentencing testimony.

Taylor's attorneys brought forth Ramos' criminal history during cross examination, which includes 19 arrests in 22 years. They also addressed DeSilva having methamphetamine in his system and a BAC of roughly .20 when he held a knife to his neck.

The punishment range for deadly conduct is 2-10 years in prison, and probation is an option for individuals who do not have and prior convictions.

Due to various scheduling conflicts, the hearing is set to pause after today and pick back up with the Defense's witnesses on Nov. 25.

KXAN will update this story throughout Thursday's court proceedings.