Husband-Killing Wife To Pay In-Laws $3.75M

(AP)  A woman who killed her cheating husband by mowing him down with her car in a jealous rage was ordered Friday to pay $3.75 million to her in-laws.

A jury awarded the sum in a wrongful-death lawsuit brought against Clara Harris.

Harris, 48, repeatedly ran over her orthodontist husband, David, 44, with her Mercedes-Benz in 2002 in the parking lot of a suburban hotel after finding him there with his receptionist-turned-mistress. She was convicted of murder in 2003 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Harris squeezed her eyes shut when the judge asked for the jury's decision.

She took the stand during the trial, but repeatedly invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Defense attorney Dean Blumrosen said he did not want to risk having Harris say anything in the civil trial that might endanger her appeal of the murder conviction.

Plaintiff Gerald Harris described the jury's verdict as "an equitable decision."

"We had an opportunity to tell the story of what a good man our son was, and now the door is closed," he said.

Blumrosen said Harris had expected the lawsuit and expected to pay damages. "She's not upset about the money," he said.

Jury forewoman Lorna Mullens said Harris "could have stopped and she didn't stop. She kept running over him."

Juror Brandon Pauler said the panel also felt some sympathy for Harris.

"I definitely think there was some empathy, some thoughts about what she'd been through as well," he said.

On the night of the slaying, Harris and the receptionist had a brawl in the hotel's lobby, and guards escorted both women out of the building — the same place the Harrises were married a decade earlier.

[luek1]

She should have gotten DEATH rather than a measly 20 years. This money grubbing Black Widow needed to be squashed. At least she will not profit from her crime.

[trueprogress]

It is different when a man "cheats", here it is for his own personal satisfaction. For a woman, it is because she was lied to, or was made to feel that she had to, not out of choice. Women therefore are not fully responsible and should get a pass or a few years or months of conselling. What good is it keeping her in jail. That does not bring anyone back !!!! If this was California, she would be out giving seminars already, about anger in men.

[bobverick]

What if it was a man who killed his cheating wife? Would he have been convicted? Would she deserve to die like he did? Just a question about double standards in America.

[ketemkin]

It used to not be illegal in TX to kill a cheating spouse.

[che12341]

I think she should have used her good judgement. She is now repenting in leisure. Hell have no fury like a scorned woman. I think she would be happier now if she had stepped back and thought about her options. Personally the trip to the bank would have been a sweeter type of justice. Emotional intellect is highly needed in cases like this.

[grumpas]

I would have taken him to the cleaners! Literally!!!! Not likely the other woman would have wanted him after he was dead broke and in hawk for years! I am like the one who said no doubt it was a message to move on in life! Men like that aren't worth the misery!

[nothappyatall]

She should have divorced and sued him, instead she was an idiot and ran hom over, now SHE will spend 20 years in jail with the bull *****, broke.

[hermit22]

bildooreily, how did you get over your womanizing? did you think your behavior was an embarrassment to men? how many of those women were probably normal, before you turned them into "psycos"?

[bildooreilly]

It's not about whether he was a good man or not spankyo, it's not about his character, it's about this psycho thinking she's judge jury and executioner because she got her feelings hurt. It's amazing a lot of women think being ruthless to men like this because they cheated on them is acceptable. I used to be a devout womanizer and I dealt with a lot of these psychos, you people really need some mental help.... Most men cheat, always have always will... get over it already.

[duntaday]

I don't think I'd ever kill anyone for cheating on me. Seems like a message to move on more likely.