But evidence presented during the trial refuted Perry’s claims, and included private messages and social media posts where he seemingly fantasized about having the opportunity to kill people.
The case was reminiscent of the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, who killed two protesters later that year during an uprising in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Unlike Rittenhouse, however, Perry was actually found guilty of murder Friday following a week of deliberations.
Rittenhouse himself, and Fox News host Tucker Carlson, immediately began lobbying Abbott to pardon Perry.
“This is a legal atrocity,” Carlson said during his show Friday night, imploring Abbott to pardon Perry.
But Abbott did not grant that pardon, and the following year, the same board recommended against a pardon unanimously.
“In our legal system, a jury gets to decide whether a defendant is guilty or innocent—not the Governor. »