A disturbing case unfolded in a San Antonio courtroom as Tamera Laws, a 28-year-old woman, admitted to brutally beating and stabbing her grandmother, Doris Novella, to death in 2020. During her emotional testimony, Laws claimed that “voices” and a belief that her grandmother was practicing “witchcraft” drove her to commit the heinous act.
Laws was in tears as she testified in her defense, questioning aloud, “Who does that?” She expressed disbelief at her actions, stating that her grandmother had never done anything to warrant such violence. Prosecutors allege that Laws choked, stabbed, and struck Novella with a hammer, resulting in her death.
When questioned about the murder, Laws struggled to compose herself but eventually admitted to using her hands and a hammer to attack her grandmother. She claimed that she believed an “energy” was on her and thought that beating her grandmother would rid her of it. She ultimately stabbed Novella in the throat to ensure she was dead.
During her testimony, Laws revealed that she was struggling with meth addiction and working as an escort leading up to the murder. She claimed that she heard voices telling her that people were trying to kill her and believed her grandmother was involved in witchcraft against her. Laws also shared that her father had informed her of Novella’s alleged involvement in witchcraft.
In a disturbing revelation, Laws stated that her father had encouraged her to kill her grandmother, claiming that she needed to protect herself. She recounted a chilling conversation where her father warned her that failing to kill Novella would result in harm coming to her. Despite these claims, prosecutors argued that Laws was aware of her actions, as she attempted to clean up the crime scene and flee.
A psychiatrist testified that Laws suffered from mental health issues, experiencing psychosis and hallucinations. Laws opted for a bench trial, waiving her right to a jury, with the judge set to determine the outcome and whether her insanity defense will be accepted. If found guilty of murdering her grandmother, Laws faces up to life in prison.
The tragic case of Tamera Laws serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of mental health and the devastating consequences it can have on individuals and their loved ones.
