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Family Says Joshua Atwood Never Meant to Hurt Father
Posted: Nov 28, 2012 3:52 PM by Mia Gordon - mgordon@kristv.com
Updated: Nov 28, 2012 6:44 PM
CORPUS CHRISTI - Testimony continued today in the trial of a man accused of beating his father to death. But family friends say that Joshua Atwood and his father had a loving relationship and this was all just a tragic accident.
Today the state called Medical Examiner Ray Fernandez, who told the court that Todd Atwood died from traumatic brain injuries. And believes it was due to the fight he had with his son, Joshua, last year.
But when the defense called up Joshua's wife, Monica Brown, she testified that Joshua, who in her opinion is not a violent person, and loved his dad.
Family friends, like Pat Turner who Joshua used to live with agree, "Accidents happen. Josh, it isn't in his nature. He is just a loving young man who loved his father."
Monica told the court that they had taken their daughter to visit her grandmother on July 16, 2011. Once inside the apartment Joshua wanted to leave, and wanted Monica to go with him. When he grabbed her arm, Joshua's father stepped in and told him not to do that. According to Monica it was Todd who hit Joshua in the face first.
Turner believes Joshua only turned violent because he was scared for his families safety, "His wife and his baby were there. Josh was never all about Josh. It was his family. He was very family oriented."
Turner says it breaks her heart to think Joshua could spend the rest of his life behind bars, and says it's not just him who would suffer, "You're not just sentencing him. Monica would not have a husband and that little baby would grow up never knowing her daddy. And that would be the worst thing that could happen to any of them."
The last witnesses will testify tomorrow morning, and then it will be time for deliberation. If found guilty of capital murder, Joshua Atwood faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty in this case.
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