Man sentenced to life in prison without parole in double homicide

Excerpt

Amarillo, TX - An Amarillo man has agreed to life in prison without parole for the murders of two people in Amarillo back in 2009.

Amarillo, TX - There was an intense moment in a Randall County courtroom as the families of two murder victims had the chance to talk to the accused killer.

Wilbert Banks shot and killed Stephanie Beard and Daniel Brittain  in 2009.

Banks was charged with capital murder, murder and aggravated assault.

Because of his charges Banks faced the death penalty.

To spare his life, his attorneys came to an agreement.

"Anytime the defense approaches us with a plea offer, we feel we have an ethical obligation to share that with the victim, victim's family and recently the defense began to talk to us about a plea, life without parole," said District Attorney James Farren.

Farren adds they accepted the plea agreement to spare the two victim's families from having to go through a trial.

"If it weren't life without the possibility of parole, I don't think the family would have been as pleased with it, but the fact that he will die in prison, never, ever, be released is a big factor for them," said Farren.

While in the courtroom, Beard's and Britain's families stood up to tell banks the pain he caused them.

A man sitting on Bank's side then stood up and made a threatening remark to one of the victim's fathers, he was taken out by court officials.

"He is a man, the defendant calls his father,  biologically he is not actually, but he sort of raised him, to be honest I think the man is inebriated, I think he is drunk, and he came to the courtroom in pretty bad shape to begin with," added Farren.

Whether that man is charged with contempt of court is up to the judge.

Farren says he doesn't think the two families will ever have closure but it brings them comfort knowing he is never going to be released.