ONE SIMPLE QUESTION:
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IS WHAT HAPPENED ON THIS RURAL HIGHWAY IN TEXAS AN ACCIDENT OR AN ACT OF MURDER ?>> I SYMPATHIZE WANTING TO CONFRONT YOUR HUSBAND'S MISTRESS, BUT ENGAGING IN ROAD RAGE? NO, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE .>> Reporter: FOR PROSECUTOR STEPHANIE PAULISSEN, THE DEADLY CONFRONTATION THAT OCCURRED ALONG THIS DUSTY STRETCH OF HIGHWAY WAS NOTHING SHORT OF MURDER. AND HER CO- COUNSEL, SCOTT SIMPSON, KNOWS THEY WILL HAVE TO CONVINCE JURORS THAT THIS WAS \ NOT \ A JUSTIFIABLE KILLING .>> WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT CASE, BUT NOT BECAUSE OF THE FACTS. ALL OF MY FEMALE FRIENDS KEPT TELLING ME THROUGHOUT TRIAL, THEY WOULD KEEP SAYING, " HE HAD IT COMING .">> I DON'T THINK THAT HE HAD DEATH COMING. HE HAD A DIVORCE COMING. IF EVERYBODY WERE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR BEING A PHILANDERER, WHAT WOULD THE POPULATION LOOK LIKE ?>> Reporter: ON AUGUST 30, 2016, NEARLY THREE YEARS AFTER BILL HALL'S TRAGIC DEATH, THE MURDER TRIAL OF HIS WIFE, FRANCES, GOT UNDER WAY. AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THAT DEADLY CHASE, FRANCES CAME FACE TO FACE WITH THE WOMAN \ SHE BLAMES FOR ALL OF THIS: HER HUSBAND'S MISTRESS, BONNIE CONTRERAS. RIGHT AWAY, BONNIE TELLS THE JURY SHE AND BILL WERE TARGETED THAT DAY .>> I SEE HER HIT BILL WITH THE TRUCK, AND I SEE HIM FLY OFF THE MOTORCYCLE. AND THEN, I SEE THE BIKE FLY .>> Reporter: IN HER VIDEO DEPOSITION, BONNIE DEMONSTRATED WHAT SHE SAYS SHE SAW IN HER REARVIEW MIRROR .>> I SEE THE... THE ESCALADE COMING, AND THEN SHE JUST-- BOOM-- SHE HITS HIM. HE FLIES OFF THE BIKE, THE BIKE FLIES OFF. SHE KEPT HITTING ME AND HITTING ME AND GOING FASTER .>> Reporter: AND BONNIE SAYS FRANCES CONTINUED HER ATTACK, RAMMING HER S. U. V. AS MANY AS 15 TIMES .>> I STARTED SCREAMING AND CRYING. I SAID, " OH, MY GOD. FRANCES IS HITTING ME FROM BEHIND. WHAT DO I DO ?">> Reporter: TO DISPROVE BONNIE'S STORY, THE DEFENSE CALLS COLLISION RECONSTRUCTION EXPERT CHARLES RUBLE ...>> THIS IS THE BLACK RANGE ROVER OPERATED BY BONNIE CONTRERAS .>> Reporter: ... WHO ALSO USES TOY CARS TO DEMONSTRATE WHAT HE SAYS HAPPENED .>> BILL HALL WAS FOLLOWING HIS WIFE. THEY'RE TRAVELING AT 70, 80 MILES AN HOUR .>> Reporter: RUBLE BELIEVES THAT WHEN BILL MANEUVERED AROUND THE ESCALADE TO AVOID COLLIDING, HE VEERED RIGHT, HIT THE SHOULDER AND THEN TRIED TO CORRECT HIMSELF BY VEERING LEFT. THAT IS WHEN HE \ ACCIDENTALLY STRUCK FRANCES' REAR WINDOW. BILL LOST CONTROL AND WAS THROWN OFF THE HIGHWAY. SO, BASED ON YOUR ANALYSIS, THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE THAT BONNIE'S CLAIM THAT FRANCES REAR- ENDED HER HUSBAND IS TRUE? THERE'S NO EVIDENCE ?>> NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER. THERE'S NO EVIDENCE ON THE REAR OF THE MOTORCYCLE OF ANY CONTACT. THERE'S NO EVIDENCE ON THE HOOD OF THE ESCALADE .>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTION CONCEDES THAT BONNIE'S RECOLLECTION OF EVENTS IS \ NOT SUPPORTED BY THE EVIDENCE .>> I WOULDN'T CHARACTERIZE HER TESTIMONY AS UNTRUTHFUL. I WOULD JUST CHARACTERIZE IT AS MISTAKEN .>> THE RANGER ROVER ...>> Reporter: PROSECUTION COLLISION EXPERT TIMOTHY LOVETT .>> OH, I DON'T THINK BONNIE CONTRERAS IS INTENTIONALLY LYING ABOUT THIS COLLISION. SHE'S EXCITABLE. SHE'S GOT SOMEBODY THAT'S JUST LIKE A RAGING BULL BEHIND HER .>> Reporter: LOVETT SAYS THE EVIDENCE CLEARLY SHOWS THAT FRANCES RAMMED BONNIE'S CAR MULTIPLE TIMES .>> I HAVE DAMAGE ON THIS SIDE OF THE BUMPER, AND I HAVE DAMAGE ON THIS SIDE OF THE FRONT BUMPER, AS WELL. THAT'S TWO. THAT'S AT LEAST ONE MORE THAN JUST AN ACCIDENTAL BUMP .>> Reporter: AS FOR WHY THE DAMAGE ON THE BUMPERS APPEARS SO MINOR, THE PROSECUTION HAS AN ANSWER .>> WHEN TWO VEHICLES ARE MOVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND THEY'RE GOING AT THE SAME SPEED, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE HUGE DAMAGE WHEN THEY COLLIDE .>> Reporter: AND AS FOR HOW BILL DIED? PROSECUTORS BELIEVE FRANCES SIDE- SWIPED BILL'S MOTORCYCLE, KNOCKING HIM OFF THE ROAD AS SHE PURSUED BONNIE .>> IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO SAY THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SURROUNDING CIRCUMSTANCES .>> Reporter: PROSECUTORS POINT TO THE DAY BEFORE THE CRASH, WHEN FRANCES PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED BILL, AND, FURTHERMORE, THEY PLAY THE PHONE MESSAGE THAT FRANCES' DAUGHTER, NIKKI, LEFT ON BONNIE'S CELL PHONE DURING THE CHASE .>> ... TOLD YOU TO WATCH YOUR BACK, YOU (\ BLEEP \) STUPID SLUT .>> TO ME-- AND I WANT TO THINK TO ANY WOMAN-- THAT WOULD SPEAK VERY MUCH TO FRANCES' INTENT TO HURT BONNIE. SHE WAS OUT FOR BLOOD .>> Reporter: SO, YOU TAKE THE STAND AS A PROSECUTION WITNESS ?>> RIGHT .>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTION CALLS BILL'S COUSIN, HANK, WHO THEY BELIEVE IS ABOUT TO CAP OFF THEIR CASE BY TELLING JURORS FRANCES MURDERED BILL. BUT AFTER HEARING ALL OF THE EVIDENCE AND SEEING FRANCES IN COURT, HANK HAS A CHANGE OF HEART. BUT YOU END UP SAYING SOMETHING ON THE STAND THAT THE PROSECUTION DOESN'T WANT YOU TO... TO SAY IN FRONT OF THIS JURY .>> THEY ASKED ME IF I THOUGHT THAT FRANCES HAD KILLED BILL. AND I TOOK A MOMENT, AND I TOLD THEM, " NO ." AND THE D. A. LOOKED AT ME LIKE ...>> Reporter: " ARE YOU KIDDING ME" KIND OF LOOK ?>> YEAH .>> Reporter: AND DID YOU LOOK OVER AT FRANCES AFTER YOU SAID THAT ?>> SHE GRABBED HERSELF AND STARTED CRYING .>> Reporter: IN A WAY, AT THAT MOMENT, THAT'S WHEN THE WHOLE FAMILY COMES BACK TOGETHER ?>> GOT BACK TOGETHER, KIND OF GOT EVERYBODY CLOSE AGAIN .>> Reporter: AFTER NEARLY A THREE- WEEK TRIAL, FRANCES HALL CHOOSES NOT TO TESTIFY, LEAVING HER FATE IN THE HANDS OF A TEXAS JURY .>> AS A RESULT OF HER RAGE, A MAN IS DEAD. AND JUSTICE IS HOLDING THIS WOMAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT MAN'S DEATH .>> SHE'S BEEN LIVING IN HELL FOR THREE YEARS. LET HER GO HOME. LET HER BE WITH HER FAMILY. LET HER MOURN HER HUSBAND .>> Reporter: FOR ALL HIS 50 YEARS, BILL HALL LIVED TO THE MAX, BUILDING AND TAKING EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING HE WANTED, RIGHT TILL THE END .>> THE MULTIMILLIONAIRE, TWO WOMEN FIGHTING FOR HIM .>> I MISS HIM TREMENDOUSLY. I JUST WISH HE WAS HERE .>> THE ONLY MAN I'VE EVER BEEN WITH, THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN .>> Reporter: BILL'S HUNGER FOR LIFE GREW INTO AN APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION. AND THEN, OUT ON A RURAL TEXAS HIGHWAY, EVERYTHING GOOD WAS GONE .>> THIS IS A STORY OF... OF LOSS. I... I MISS MY FAMILY .>> Reporter: FOR NIKKI, WHO BELIEVES THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT, NOT A MURDER, IT COMES DOWN TO THIS: HER FATHER, DEAD. WOULD SHE NOW LOSE HER MOTHER, TOO? WOULD FRANCES HALL BE PUT AWAY BY A JURY SWORN TO JUSTICE ?>> SHE'S A STRONG, STRONG, STRONG WOMAN. THAT BEING SAID, SHE WASN'T GOING TO GO MURDER HER HUSBAND AND SAY " IF I CAN'T HAVE HIM, NO ONE CAN HAVE HIM ." THAT'S JUST NOT FRANCES .>> Reporter: BUT THE STATE OF TEXAS ARGUED HARD. BILL MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FRANCES'INTENDED TARGET, BUT HER ACTIONS THAT DAY RESULTED IN HIS DEATH. AND NOW, SHE HAD TO PAY THE PRICE. THIS DANGEROUS INTERSECTION OF EMOTION AND BETRAYAL AND HUMILIATION, IT OCCURRED BECAUSE YOU MADE THAT U- TURN .>> YES. YES. AND WITH THAT I WILL LIVE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE .>> Reporter: TESTIMONY LASTED SEVEN DAYS. THEN, IT WAS IN THE JURY'S HANDS. THEY'D DELIBERATE A SINGLE DAY, AND, ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2016, THEY SPOKE AS ONE .>> WE, THE JURY, FIND THE DEFENDANT, FRANCES HALL, GUILTY OF MURDER .>> Reporter: CONVICTED OF BOTH AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND MURDER, FRANCES HALL FACED A POSSIBLE LIFE SENTENCE .>> (\ CRYING \) I DIDN'T DO IT! I WOULD NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS HAVE HURT BILL. NEVER .>> I'M VERY HAPPY ON THE CONVICTIONS SHE GOT, ON BOTH COUNTS. THAT GAVE ME PEACE .>> Reporter: BUT ALONG WITH THE GUILTY VERDICT CAME ONE LAST STEP, A SEPARATE SENTENCING TRIAL. FRANCES HAD A FINAL OPPORTUNITY, AND HER LEGAL TEAM CONJURED A BOLD DEFENSE, " SUDDEN PASSION .">> IF EVER THERE WAS A PERSON THAT THE SUDDEN PASSION PROVISION WAS WRITTEN FOR, IT'S FRANCES HALL, ABSOLUTELY .>> Reporter: " SUDDEN PASSION ," A LEGAL TERM FOR A PROFOUNDLY HUMAN MOMENT-- A WIFE CHASING DOWN HER CHEATING HUSBAND AND HIS UNREPENTANT MISTRESS .>> SUDDEN PASSION THAT YOU WERE SO ENTRENCHED OR, YOU KNOW, STUCK IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT THAT YOU ARE UNABLE TO THINK CLEARLY .>> NOW, IF YOU CAUSE A DEATH, IT'S MURDER. BUT AT PUNISHMENT, YOU CAN GET A... A LOWER PUNISHMENT. YOU CAN BASICALLY GET MANSLAUGHTER PUNISHMENT .>> THAT LOWERS IT TO TWO TO 20. HUGE, HUGE DIFFERENCE .>> Reporter: LEIGH CUTTER AND ADAM CORTEZ MADE THEIR PASSIONATE CASE FOR SUDDEN PASSION, AND THIS TIME FRANCES HALL TOOK THE STAND IN HER OWN DEFENSE .>> I AM NOT THIS EVIL PERSON THAT THEY SAID I AM. SHOW MERCY ON ME, PLEASE .>> YOU CAN'T GET UP AND GIVE A BIG, BIG MIDDLE FINGER TO THE JURY .>> Reporter: THE PROSECUTION FOUGHT BACK, SAYING FRANCES SIDESWIPED HER CAR INTO BILL HALL'S POWDER BLUE HARLEY IN A MAD, MINDLESS ATTEMPT TO CONFRONT BONNIE CONTRERAS .>> MERCY IS FOR SOMEONE WHO SAYS, " I DID WRONG, GIVE ME MERCY ," NOT FOR SOMEBODY WHO SAYS, " YOU GOT IT WRONG, BUT GIVE ME MERCY ANYWAY .">> Reporter: FOUR DAYS AFTER HER CONVICTION, FRANCES LEARNS HER FATE .>> WE SET HER PUNISHMENT AND CONFINEMENT IN THE INSTITUTIONAL DIVISION OF THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE FOR A TERM OF TWO YEARS. (\ CRYING \) ORDER IN THE COURT, PLEASE. ORDER IN THE COURT .>> I FELT LIKE, " WOW, YES! ONLY TWO YEARS. BUT THERE GOES MY MOM. OFF SHE GOES .">> AND I KNOW THAT I COULD HAVE DONE LIFE FOR THIS, SO FOR THAT I WAS GRATEFUL. BUT IT'S STILL TWO YEARS AWAY FROM MY CHILDREN. THAT'S TWO YEARS THAT I WON'T BE THERE FOR MY GRANDKIDS .>> SHE DIDN'T KILL MY GRANDPA. SHE WOULD NEVER DO THAT .>> Reporter: PASSION IS WHAT THIS TALE CAME DOWN TO, AND FOR AT LEAST ONE TEXAS FAMILY, LOVE FOR A MAN WHOSE PASSIONS FOR LIFE LED HIM DOWN THE WRONG ROAD .>> BRILLIANT GUY, SMART GUY. BUT, LIKE I SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN BE THE SMARTEST GUY IN THE WORLD AND GUESS WHAT? YOU MAKE MISTAKES, TOO. SO ...>> Reporter: SOME THREE YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH, HIS FAMILY IS SHATTERED, AND BILL HALL TRUCKING HAS FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY. AS YOU STAND HERE IN THIS JAIL TALKING TO ME, DO YOU STILL LOVE BILL HALL, JR .?>> OH, WITH ALL MY HEART! I WILL NEVER LOVE ANOTHER LIKE I LOVED THIS MAN .>>\ A NEW SEASON .>> HE TOLD ME AT THE BEGINNING, ALL HE WANTED TO DO WAS RAPE ME .>> I KEPT SAYING TO MY MOM, " I'M GOING TO DIE .">> WHAT IS THE MALE'S NAME THAT ASSAULTED HER ?>> ADAM .>> I WAS 14 YEARS OLD, AND HE HAD JUST TURNED 16. I NEVER TOLD ANYONE ABOUT THE ABUSE. HE HELD A KNIFE TO MY THROAT. I SAID, " ADAM, ARE YOU GOING TO KILL ME ?" AND HE SAID, " YES ."\" 48 HOURS ," SATURDAYS .>>\ CBSN, LIVE NEWS STREAMING TO \ YOU .\ CBSN .\ CBS NEWS .\ ALWAYS ON.
