Courtroom TV footage goes viral after it takes bizarre twist
The bailiff was convicted of murdering his wife after claiming that he had a happy marriage on TV
Emma Guinness
A former TV bailiff has been found guilty of murdering his wife this month over an argument about a lack of intimacy.
Renard Spivey, who was also a deputy of the Harris County Sheriff's Office in Texas, was first arrested back in 2019, and footage of a TV appearance where he said he was happy with his wife soon went viral.
The footage was from Spivey's time as a TV bailiff on Justice for All with Judge Cristina Perez - a role he occupied from 2012 to 2016.
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In one now-eerie scene, the defendant tells Spivey that he looks 'mad' after he revealed that he had been married for 27 years.
"You don't look happy, brother. You don't look happy," he said.
The judge then answered for the now-convicted killer and said 'he's very happy' in his marriage before the clip faded to black.
The then-63-year-old was first charged with his wife's murder in 2019 after authorities found inconsistencies in his story, and he was later convicted because of fingerprints on a gun and gunpowder on his hand.
Patricia, 52, died after being shot twice, with Spivey claiming that she had shot him first in the leg, ABC13 reports.
He told authorities that his wife had shot him accidentally after 'tussling with the gun' and explained they 'had been arguing all day.'
He called 911 at around 3am and officers arrived at the scene to find Patricia's body in a wardrobe, alongside her mobile phone, three shell casings and a 9mm handgun.
Officers made a note of the fact that Spivey was significantly larger than his wife - by about 100 pounds - and appeared to be a bodybuilder.
Patricia's brother, Ezra Washington, claimed to police that the couple had been arguing about sex, and Spivey had reportedly told him that Patricia was 'counting my pills' and accused of him of having an affair.
"I never thought that he'd go that far, I should have acted on it and that's going to eat me up for a long time, forever. But him saying that and then acting on it, I gave him the benefit of the doubt." Washington told ABC13.
Patricia is survived by a daughter, Patrina Marshall.
She told ABC13 of her late mother: "She was my cushion when things were hard.
"[She was] my friend when I needed to vent, my hands when I needed help, but most of all, that woman is my mother."
The Harris County Sheriff's Office where Spivey worked as a deputy also extended their condolences to his wife's family.
"The Harris County Sheriff's Office family extends our sincere condolences to the family of Patricia Spivey as they mourn the loss of their loved one," Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said.
"While the facts of this specific case will be determined by a jury, I encourage all victims of domestic violence to seek assistance from law enforcement and others whom they trust. I also ask anyone who suspects a friend or loved one may be the victim of abuse to persist in helping them escape a potentially deadly situation."
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677