SAN ANTONIO – Manuel Trujillo and his wife, Gloria, were selling tamales in December 2007 to make extra money for Christmas.
As they returned home at 2 a.m. on Dec. 22, their mini-van was struck head-on in the 12000 Block of Loop 1604 by a pick-up truck driven by Robert Maycott.
Speaking through an interpreter, Gloria Trujillo told the jury in Maycott's intoxication manslaughter trial that she remembers headlights coming their way.
"He was coming too fast," she testified.
Maycott, 25, was drunk, prosecutors told the jury as his trial began Wednesday morning. His blood alcohol was 0.15, according to Assistant District Attorney Charles "Chip" Rich, more than twice the legal limit.
James Stigers, who was travelling behind the couple's vehicle, testified that he stopped when he saw the crash. He checked on the couple and then approached Maycott's truck.
"The main thing that I assessed," Stigers testified, "was that he was drinking -- or had been drinking -- and that he had slurred speech and that there was a smell of alcohol."
Before testimony began, Maycott plead guilty to intoxication manslaughter charges. Given that, the jury's only task is to assess punishment.
The punishment range is from probation to two to 20 years in prison.
Maycott has no previous criminal record, his attorney Eddie Garcia pointed out, and so is eligible for probation.
Rich told the jury that he will recommend the maximum sentence.
Testimony will continue on Thursday in Judge Juanita Vasquez-Gardner's 399th District Court.