A jury reached a guilty verdict Thursday in a Broward County court in the attempted murder trial against former U.S. Air Force Major Thomas Maffei.
Maffei is convicted of trying to kill his wife and her father back in November of 2012. He's been in jail ever since. The most gripping testimony came from his now ex-wife Kate Ranta, who cried on the stand describing the moments Maffei allegedly ambushed both victims inside her Coral Springs apartment.
"Nothing is to blame and no one is to blame but that man himself for what he did that night to Katherine Ranta and Robert Ranta," prosecutor Whitney Mackay said.
Ranta says Maffei shot at them through the door and then shot them each one more time in front of the couple's four-year-old son. Maffei's attorney hasn't disputed those details of the case, instead arguing that Maffei was influenced by pain pills after being prescribed for PTSD, back pain and depression.
Maffei reportedly took that medication hours before the shooting - and a doctor testified it could've affected his behavior.
"He was intoxicated that day because of what he took, he took massive amounts he was taking of drugs that were lawfully prescribed," defense attorney Fred Haddad said.
This trial was expected to take five days, but only lasted two. Maffei faces a minimum 25 years in prison.
