Johnson Guilty Of Murder In Castle West Trial

COLORADO SPRINGS – Derrick Johnson has been found guilty of first degree murder in the Castle West trial Friday.

Jurors reached their verdict after a New Year’s day holiday break. Sentencing is scheduled for January 30th. He faces a minimum of life in prison, without the possibility of parole.

24-year-old Johnsonwas found two counts of 1st Degree Felony Murder and 1st Degree Extreme Indifference Murder, Arson Attempted Extreme Indifference Murder, Attempted Murder and Menacing, for setting a fire on January 16, 2007 that caused the deaths of Joe Santoyo and Clemente Perez-Salgado and endangered the lives of hundreds of displaced Castle West residents.

The evidence presented over the month long trialproved that on January 15th and 16th, Derrick Johnson made numerous calls and sent text messages to his former girlfriend, Najua Bell-Jackson who was staying at the Castle West Apartments. The Johnson threatened to kill Bell-Jackson and made further threats to “blow up” the apartments. That same night, Derrick Johnson was captured on a 7-11 surveillance video borrowing a gas can and filling it with gas.

Deputy District Attorney Donna Billek led off for the prosecution Tuesday morning, calling this a case about control, anger and Derrick Johnson not getting what he wanted. Billek said the evidence shows Johnson threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend, Najua Bell-Jackson and burn down the apartment complex and he followed through on those threats.

Levinson told the jury in his closing argument that after 31 days of testimony,the prosecution has failed to prove that Johnson is guilty. Levinson poked holes in some of the prosecution’s expert witness testimony about the origin of the fire and said investigators ignored evidence that pointed to someone else starting the fire.