Austin Officer Christopher Taylor Faces Sentencing

The sentencing phase for Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor has commenced following his recent conviction for deadly conduct in the shooting death of Mauris DeSilva, who was experiencing a mental health crisis. The prosecution began by calling witnesses, including DeSilva's father, Denzil DeSilva, who emotionally recounted the impact of his son's death on their family. Taylor faces a sentence ranging from two to ten years and has opted for a judge, rather than a jury, to determine his punishment. The defense has raised questions about DeSilva's mental state and drug use at the time of the incident, arguing these factors may have influenced the tragic encounter. The state has objected to certain lines of questioning regarding toxicology reports, which were not introduced as evidence during the trial. Taylor is notably the first officer to be convicted in connection with an on-duty shooting in Travis County, and his sentencing is being closely watched.