North Texas Man Gets 12 Years in Daughter's Death

A North Texas man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for the videotaped fatal shooting of his 10-year-old daughter while he was drinking.

Jurors in Denton could have sentenced Duke Watrous of Oak Point to 20 years behind bars over the accidental Christmas Eve 2009 shooting.

Watrous on April 11 pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Jurors the next day, during the penalty phase, watched home video of Watrous shooting his daughter, Ashley, in the head during what prosecutors say was a drunken lesson on handling firearms.

The man's 9-year-old son witnessed the shooting and called 911.

Watrous, who had installed the cameras as he faced a child custody fight, was sentenced Friday.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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