A local retired teacher, accused of killing her husband 24 years ago, walked free today after an Orange County judge threw out the case.
Delores Laster, 64, who was arrested in 2009 on charges of fatally shooting her husband, Clarence Laster to death in 1988, was acquitted Wednesday in an Orange County court.
After more than a week of testimony, Judge O.H. Eaton said prosecutors had not proved first degree murder, as there was not enough hard evidence presented.
Twenty-four years ago, Clarence Laster’s body was found in the garage of the couple’s home in the Pine Hills area, with a gunshot to the head. Prosecutors said, Delores Laster was the trigger woman.
The Laster children testified, recalling how they helped their mother drag their father’s body into the garage, after being told that he had struck his head.
Judge Eaton pointed out that conflicting statements had been made by the children over time. They were unable to recall some of the details of the incident.
The jury never got the case as Judge Eaton ruled that Laster be acquitted.
