After four long months of trial testimony full of twists and turns, including tales about revelations from God, lust, temptation and greed, last week an Arizona jury found Doug Grant, 43, guilty of manslaughter in the 2001 death of his wife, Fayene Grant, who was 35 when she died
All along, the prosecution's case had been built on premeditation, accusing Doug of implanting visions of death in his devoutly religious wife, then drowning her in their bathtub so that he could be with his ex-girlfriend.
To the defense, Faylene Grant's death was either a suicide or a strange accident.
But for the jury, in the end it all came down to recklessness.
Though Doug Grant was originally indicted on first degree murder, in the last weeks of trial the prosecution argued for and the judge agreed that the jury could consider two lesser offenses -- second degree murder and manslaughter. If the prosecution hadn't won its argument, Doug Grant might not be locked up at the Maricopa County Jail.
"If it was first degree, we definitely would have hung," the jury foreperson, who did not wish to be identified, told ABC News. "Some people felt that he was guilty of first degree [murder] and they felt very strongly about it. Ultimately, it came down to manslaughter -- for not making the 911 call and possibly by him not calling 911. They couldn't get there to save Faylene. Everybody agreed with that."
What the jury seemed to have a tougher time explaining were the strange circumstances surrounding the couples second marriage.
"There were no solid answers at the end of so many paths that we went down," explained the foreperson.
To the defense, Faylene Grant's death was either a suicide or a strange accident.
But for the jury, in the end it all came down to recklessness.
Though Doug Grant was originally indicted on first degree murder, in the last weeks of trial the prosecution argued for and the judge agreed that the jury could consider two lesser offenses -- second degree murder and manslaughter. If the prosecution hadn't won its argument, Doug Grant might not be locked up at the Maricopa County Jail.
"If it was first degree, we definitely would have hung," the jury foreperson, who did not wish to be identified, told ABC News. "Some people felt that he was guilty of first degree [murder] and they felt very strongly about it. Ultimately, it came down to manslaughter -- for not making the 911 call and possibly by him not calling 911. They couldn't get there to save Faylene. Everybody agreed with that."
What the jury seemed to have a tougher time explaining were the strange circumstances surrounding the couples second marriage.
"There were no solid answers at the end of so many paths that we went down," explained the foreperson.
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