Guilty Verdict Handed Down In Hickory DWI Trial

After deliberations continued this morning in a drunken driving case in Catawba County, 21-year-old Enrique Zavalas is found guilty of second degree murder in the killing a woman last September near downtown Hickory.

Police say Zavalas' blood alcohol level was above the legal limit and he was driving at more than twice the speed limit when he crashed into Jerry and Rena Moore's truck.

Rena Moore was killed and Jerry Moore was seriously injured.

Prosecutors say the jury was to decide between second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter.

It took five hours for them to reach their decision, guilty on all counts of second degree murder.

There was little reaction from Zavalas.

He did apologize to couples son saying, “I really apologize. Our families would’ve been able to be friends in other circumstances.”

Zavalas could spend the next 15 years in jail.