A Texas woman, Tamera Laws, is currently on trial in San Antonio for the brutal murder of her grandmother, Doris Novella, in 2020. During her testimony in court, Laws had a meltdown, claiming that “voices” and a belief that her grandmother was practicing “witchcraft” drove her to commit the heinous act.
Laws, 28, was emotional on the stand, questioning herself and the horrific crime she committed. She admitted to choking, stabbing, and beating her grandmother with a hammer until she died. Laws expressed disbelief at her own actions, stating that her grandmother had never done anything to deserve such treatment.
The prosecution alleges that Laws was fully aware of her actions and even attempted to clean up the crime scene and flee afterward. However, Laws maintains that she was not in her right mind at the time of the murder, struggling with meth addiction and working as an escort. She claimed that “voices” in her head were telling her that people were trying to kill her, including her grandmother.
Laws also mentioned that her father, a convicted felon living in California, had told her that her grandmother was practicing witchcraft against her. In a disturbing revelation, Laws stated that her father instructed her to kill her grandmother, threatening her with violence if she did not comply.
Despite the prosecution’s arguments that Laws was aware of her actions, a psychiatrist testified that she suffered from mental health issues, including psychosis and hallucinations. Laws waived her right to a jury trial and opted for a bench trial, where the judge, Catherine Torres Stahl, will decide the outcome and whether to accept her insanity defense.
If found guilty of murdering her grandmother, Laws could face up to life in prison. The trial continues as the court delves deeper into the disturbing circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Doris Novella.
