Posted: 04 Feb 2010 04:13 PM PST

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Taking less than an hour to reach their verdict Thursday, jurors found Brandon Lee Ferguson, 23, guilty of five counts of manslaughter and one count of aggravated assault, all with a deadly weapon.

That deadly weapon, jurors concluded, was Ferguson's Chevrolet Cobalt, which he was driving 135 mph northbound on Texas 249 Jan. 10, 2009, when it slammed into a van carrying five people on their way to celebrate a loved one's birthday. Prosecutors believe Ferguson was racing a motorcycle.

The wreck killed Donald Lee Sexton, 60, of College Station; his parents, Lloyd and Catherine Edwards, both 83, of Salina, Okla.; and Sexton's uncle, Curtis Charles Edwards, of Pinehurst; who was celebrating his birthday. Curtis Edwards was driving the van and attempting to enter Texas 249 at Patridge Circle when the van was hit.

Catherine Edwards died from injuries she suffered when she was ejected from the van. Donald Sexton, Lloyd Edwards and Curtis Edwards died in the van, which was consumed by flames.

Kayla Ann Pratorius, 18, of Magnolia, Ferguson's girlfriend, died in his vehicle.

Jurors will begin deliberating Ferguson's sentence this morning in the 9th state District Court of Judge Fred Edwards. Ferguson faces two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000 for each of the second-degree felony charges.

During testimony in the punishment phase of the trial, Karla Kay Sexton, who was injured after being ejected from the van and who lost her uncle, parents and husband in the crash, told jurors how their loss had affected her life.

"Don took care of me. When I came home (from the hospital), I had to learn how to take care of myself as a single woman," she said, wiping away tears. "You wake up one morning and your job is gone, your husband of 40 years is gone and your home is gone."

Karla Sexton moved to Oklahoma after her release from the hospital, to be near her brother and his family.

"Now I can't call my daddy, saying, 'Daddy, what do I do now?' He's gone. I can't call my mom ... she's gone," she said.

"I loved life, but now I don't know what to do with it."

During a break in the courtroom, Ferguson's mother and grandfather, Gail Graham and Jeary Wiley, walked over to Karla Sexton. Crying, the three of them hugged and talked.

Karla Sexton's brothers, Jerry Edwards and Doug Edwards, talked about when they learned of the deaths of their family members and their sister's injuries.

Jerry Edwards and his wife were driving home to Tulsa, Okla., after taking their daughter to college, when he got a call on his cell phone.

"Once I heard, I screamed, 'I can't talk to you;' and I put the phone down," he said. "My wife kept telling me to pull over. I pulled over, got out of the car and got on my knees. I just couldn't get off my knees.

"I spent about an hour and a half on the side of the road before we could go on home."

Pratorius was "so full of life," Stacy Watkins, her mother, said. "She was beautiful, she was intelligent. She had a lot of dreams. She wanted to be married and she wanted to have children.

"She's not coming back, and I will never hold her hand again, or hug her again, or touch her face again. I don't know how to accept that."

Three law enforcement officers each testified about speeding tickets they had issued Ferguson on three separate occasions prior to the wreck.

A Houston police officer said his radar gun caught Ferguson traveling 96 mph in a 65-mph speed zone on Texas 249 on May 10, 2007.

"He said he was late for school and didn't want to get expelled," the officer said.

A Tomball police officer said he stopped Ferguson on Aug. 21, 2007, for going 71 mph in a 65-mph zone, also on Texas 249. Ferguson also was ticketed May 25, 2005, for going 45 mph in a 25-mph speed zone in a subdivision, a Harris County Precinct 5 Constable's deputy said.

Defense attorney Don Lambright asked Ferguson's grandmother, Emily Wiley, if he should be a candidate for probation.

"I think he could be a candidate for probation. I know it's (the wreck) eating at him inside," she said. "Maybe he could go to school and talk to driver's ed classes. Teenagers would believe him much more than somebody else. He's been a good kid."

Ferguson, who took the stand, said he would "have no problem" talking to driver's education classes "if it would help keep someone else from doing it," he said.

"I feel sorry for what has happened," he said.

"Did you accidentally drive 130 mph?" Prosecutor Warren Diepraam asked Ferguson. "When did you have the epiphany that these people's lives were destroyed? You had a chance to apologize yesterday and you didn't."

To each question, Ferguson quietly said, "No, sir."

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Man convicted in crash killing 5 - Houston Chronicle

Posted: 04 Feb 2010 03:58 PM PST

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Brett Coomer Chronicle

Defendant Brandon Lee Ferguson, 23, of Pinehurst, sits with his defense attorney, Don Lambright, during closing arguments in his trial. Ferguson had testified in his own behalf.

CONROE — Karla Kay Sexton, a survivor of a fatal car accident that killed her husband and three other relatives a year ago, walked to the witnesses stand Thursday with a slight limp. When she settled in the chair, she immediately smiled, perhaps to keep from crying.

Just a few hours earlier, a jury had returned a guilty verdict against the man who authorities said caused the accident by racing at speeds as high as 135 miles per hour on Texas 249. Now it was her turn to let jurors know during the sentencing phase of the manslaughter trial how Brandon Lee Ferguson's actions forever changed her life,

"I can't tell you what it's done," said 60-year-old Sexton, fighting back tears. "I feel like my life is over."

A year of pain, struggle

She recapped a year of heartbreaking pain and struggles dealing with the loss of her husband of 40 years, Donald Sexton; her parents, Lloyd and Catherine Edwards, both 83, of Salina, Okla.; and her uncle, Curtis Edwards, 88, of Pinehurst. They were all in a van driven by Curtis Edwards when it was by struck Ferguson's Chevrolet Cobalt at the intersection of Texas 249 and Partridge Circle on Jan. 10, 2009. The family was headed to lunch to celebrate Curtis Edwards' birthday.

Also killed in the accident was the only passenger in Ferguson's car, his girlfriend, 18-year-old Kayla Pratorius, of Magnolia.

On Friday, jurors will decide how much time Ferguson, 23, of Pinehurst should spend in prison for his conviction on five counts of manslaughter with a deadly weapon and a count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The second-degree felonies are punishable by two to 20 years.

Sexton, who lives in Broken Arrow, Okla., and received numerous injuries in the crash, told jurors her husband was her "rock and support." He treated her like a lady and took care of her. She never pumped gas, paid bills or even used an ATM machine because he handled everything. Learning those simple tasks while going through the grieving process "is like being hit over the head," she said.

Sexton said she had compassion for Ferguson, who never looked up from the defense table, "but there are always consequences to our actions."

Other family member also gave impact statements, including Curtis Edwards' son, Douglas Edwards, and Pratorius' mother, Stacy Watkins.

Douglas Edwards said the death of his father caused him to lose his love for teaching. He said he left his job last spring but is not sure what he will do now. He also described going to his father's house days after the accident and finding his dad's birthday cake on the dining room table along with a card and candy. It was clear the family was coming back home to cut the cake, he said.

Watkins said she's still trying to figure out how to live without her daughter and best friend. She said Pratorius had dreams of going to college, getting married and having five children. She had a gift for making people laugh, she said.

Shows no emotion

Ferguson, who suffered several fractures and now walks with a cane, also took the stand on his own behalf. When his attorney asked him if he realized how the accident had altered lives, he said he understood but did not show any emotion. He said he felt sorry for what happened and wanted a chance to teach young people not to make the same mistake.

Earlier in the trial, which started on Monday at 9th State District Court in Conroe, defense attorney Don Lambright said his client did not remember anything about the accident. He also told jurors that Ferguson's attention deficit disorder could have been an explanation for the accident because the condition causes people to act impulsively without regard to consequences. Lambright, however, never challenged whether Ferguson was speeding because the evidence, including the Cobalt's crash data box, showed that he was driving too fast.

Prosecutor Warren Diepraam argued that Ferguson acted recklessly because he simply did not care. He pointed out that Ferguson had been stopped and ticketed for speeding several times.

"Don't ever forget what this case is about," Diepraam told jurors. "He's not a young kid. He's not 17, or 18. He's 22. He knows better."

renee.lee@chron.com

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Today's corporate news direct from Michigan businesses - MLive.com

Posted: 04 Feb 2010 12:09 PM PST

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Jaguar Returns to Le Mans

 JaguarRSR XKR GT2 confirmed for 24 hours of Le Mans in 2010 - the 75th year of Jaguar MAHWAH, N.J., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The year 2010 marks 75 years of the Jaguar name on both road and race cars. As a continuation of this great heritage, Jaguar will return to the famed 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car endurance race. With seven wins between 1951 and 1990, Jaguar is the single most successful British make in the French race's history. Jaguar will return to Le Mans this year lining up on the starting grid on June 12th, 2010 with an XKR GT2 run by JaguarRSR. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100204/DE50037) Paul Gentilozzi, Principal Partner, JaguarRSR commented, "We are delighted the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) has granted us entry in the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. This race is held dearly in the hearts of motorsport fans across the world and for Jaguar to be racing at Le Mans again is something special." "We are fortunate to bring an international line-up of the world's finest driving talent including Scott Pruett and Marc Goossens for this race." Gentilozzi, who will drive the JaguarRSR XKR GT2 in the 2010 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) added, "Spirits will be high around Jaguar's return to Le Mans but we must remember the incredibly high level of competition; a podium finish will not fall into our hands. That said, I can guarantee 100 percent commitment from JaguarRSR and urge fans of Jaguar and Britain's racing heritage to support the team whole heartedly." C.J. O'Donnell, Global Marketing Director of Jaguar Cars said, "Motorsport has always been important to the Jaguar brand. Our domination of Le Mans in the 1950s was a foundation on which the company was developed. It was twenty years ago that Jaguar last won Le Mans with a TWR Jaguar Sport entry driven by John Nielsen, Price Cobb and Martin Brundle. Returning to Le Mans will reignite excitement for the marque across the globe, all the more poignant in our 75th year. "With the introduction of the new XK, XF and XJ, the Jaguar brand has advanced cutting-edge technology, stunning design, plus our 'R' performance driving experience. We now return to motorsport to demonstrate this achievement and the prowess of the Jaguar XKR sports car." In 1951, the C-type won Le Mans in its first attempt, with a further victory in 1953. The D-type took Le Mans wins in 1955, 1956 and 1957. This racing success was followed in 1988 with the Jaguar XJR-9LM, a V12-powered Group C car. Another outright victory would follow in 1990 with the Jaguar XJR-12. Details of Jaguar's wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: 
 Notes (distance and average speeds rounded off to Race nearest whole Year Model no Drivers Result figure) ---- ----- ---- ------- ------ ------------------- Peter Walker, Peter First Jaguar win; 1951 C-type 20 Whitehead 1st 2244 miles, 93 mph ---- ------ --- -------------------- --- ------------------ Tony Rolt, Duncan Second Jaguar win; 1953 C-type 18 Hamilton 1st 2540 miles, 106 mph ---- ------ --- ------------------ --- ------------------- Mike Hawthorn, Ivor Third Jaguar win; 1955 D-type 6 Bueb 1st 2570 miles, 107 mph ---- ------ --- -------------------- --- ------------------- Ecurie Ecosse entry; Ron Flockhart, Ninian fourth Jaguar win; 1956 D-type 4 Sanderson 1st 2507 miles, 104 mph ---- ------ --- --------------------- --- ------------------- Ecurie Ecosse entry; Ron Flockhart, Ivor fifth Jaguar win; 1957 D-type 3 Bueb 1st 2732 miles, 114 mph ---- ------ --- -------------------- --- ------------------- TWR Jaguar Sport Jan Lammers, Johnny entry; sixth Jaguar Dumfries, Andy win; 394 laps, 3313 1988 XJR-9LM 2 Wallace 1st miles, 138 mph ---- ------- --- -------------------- --- ------------------- TWR Jaguar Sport entry; seventh Jaguar win; 359 John Nielsen, Price laps, 3034 miles, 1990 XJR-12 3 Cobb, Martin Brundle 1st 127 mph ---- ------ --- -------------------- --- ----------------- For further information, please visit http://us.mediajaguar.com or http://www.interactivejaguar.com. Jaguar From its beginning as a manufacturer of motorcycle sidecars in 1922, Jaguar Cars has grown to become one of the world's premier manufacturers of luxury sedans and sports cars and with that, one of the most recognized commercial brands. The company's vision is simple: To produce beautiful fast cars that are desired the world over. The company operates two manufacturing plants in the United Kingdom and is fully engaged in environmental programs, community work and brand awareness exercises such as motorsports.

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Cats overcome obstacles - Coloradoan

Posted: 04 Feb 2010 11:41 AM PST

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Dog agility competitions make great TV, with pooches racing around an obstacle course, jumping through hoops and dashing through tunnels. If you've seen it, though, your reaction probably wasn't, "What about cats?"

But that's exactly the thought that Kim Everett-Hirsch of Portland, Ore., had before launching her first cat agility competition in 2005. "I thought there was no reason cats can't do it."

At that first competition, there were 30 cats, none of whom had ever seen the obstacle course before. And in the building next to the cat show, there was a motorcycle show.

"These people came on over," Everett-Hirsch said. "They said, you gotta be kidding. So they paid admission." And as the cats came out and got the hang of it, she said, "They were standing up cheering them, 'go girl go!"'

The jumps, tunnels, stairs and weave poles used for cat agility will look familiar to anyone who's seen the dog version of the sport, but the smaller size of the obstacles isn't the only difference. Dogs are expected to perform each obstacle on command, in an order that isn't obvious from the course layout. For cats, the obstacles are arranged in a circle, and the handler leads them around the course, making a game of it with a toy on a stick or a laser pointer.

"A cat's a little different," said Everett-Hirsch. "They're running the show. You have to make them want to do it."

Although the sport hasn't been going very long, there's already conventional wisdom about what breeds are best-suited.

That didn't stop Donna Hinton of Richmond, Texas, a serious competitor who has big Maine Coons instead of a lithe, short-haired Abyssinian. For her it's not about the breed, it's about the individual.

"You need a cat that has a good attention span, that's toy-driven," she said. "I've had some that decided 'I tried it, it's not my cup of tea.' You can't make them do it."
Success is also very much about the handler's skill and relationship with their animal. "You have to be in tune to your cat," said Hinton. "You have to be three feet ahead and anticipate their moves."

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