Jill_Monier's Blog

Gauna's sister, Nancy tearfully testified saying they were raised in a loving family and made to go to church. She says the divorce of their parents effected them greatly. She says she sees remorse in her brother.

Gauna's sister cried when going through pictures the defense attorney handed her. One showed Gauna teaching her daughter to fish. She said Gauna spent a lot of time with her and her family and was a loving uncle.

She says Gauna was not living with a parent, but living with friends at 15-16 years old.

Prosecutors asked if she knew, he was an absconder from juvenile court when he was visiting her and spending time with her children. She said she didn't ask him about legal issues.

The Jenks family shook their heads during the testimony.

Again, jurors showed no emotion.

Gauna's 5th grade teacher , Tracy Post, also took the stand. She said Gauna was identified as gifted in math. She said  he was exceptionally bright and witty. She urged Gauna's parents to enroll him in a magnet school for more protection, saying the middle school they feed into is "rough". Post says she hasn't been in contact with Gauna since his 5th grade year. But she teared up, saying she's heart broken  and "there's no doubt in my mind he'll make different choices for himself". 

A corrections officer also testified. Gauna's been held at the Riverside Correctional facility in Nashville. She said he recently passed his GED with a score of 540. 410 is the lowest. She said Gauna did have to be subdued at least once when he first got to prison but has been a model prisoner since then. 

The state is urging the jury to sentence Gauna to life in prison without parole, citing 2 aggravating factors

1- the murder was committed to avoid arrest

2-the murder was committed against a law enforcement officer.

Prosecutor Neal Oldham says "it stops now, it stops here...the Jenks family does not need to live the next 51 years thinking about the first parole hearing".

Defense attorney, Blake Ballin says despite the fact Gauna committed a heinous crime there's something deep down in Gauna that is good and positive.

***If the jury decides on life, Gauna must serve 51 years before he'd be eligible for parole (he'd be 69 years old) If the jury decides on a sentence of life WITHOUT parole, Gauna will never be released.****