Friend of slain pregnant Texas woman calls death penalty removal the 'biggest relief in months'
A childhood friend of Christa Bauer Gilley notes that removing the death penalty clears a key hurdle to extraditing Lee Gilley from Italy for trial.
The childhood friend of a pregnant Texas woman allegedly killed by her husband says prosecutors’ decision to take the death penalty off the table brought the family its "biggest relief" in months as they seek to have the suspect returned from Italy to face trial.
"Honestly, it was the biggest relief that we've had in months," Cara Kelly, childhood friend of Christa Bauer Gilley, told "Fox & Friends First."
Kelly said the death penalty had not been something Christa’s loved ones were seeking or discussing before her husband, Lee Gilley, fled to Italy.
EXCLUSIVE: FBI EXTRADITIONS SOAR AS PATEL RAMPS UP FOREIGN OUTREACH, VOWS 'NO SANCTUARY'
"No one was pushing for the death penalty. It wasn't brought up in hearings. It wasn't in the court records," Kelly said. "It just was not something that we were talking about or thinking about until he fled."
The legal hang-up stems from Italy's laws preventing the extradition of someone who potentially faces the death penalty.
For Kelly, the development represents a potential step toward what she said Christa’s loved ones have wanted from the beginning: Gilley returned to Texas and the allegations he faces to be decided in court.
"What we've wanted the entire time… is a fair trial where the evidence can come out to a judge or a jury in Texas where it belongs," she said.
Prosecutors released a statement after taking the death penalty off the table last week, insisting that Gilley had "falsely" insisted the death sentence remained possible.
"It is our hope that this notice will put an end to the defendant's charade so that he can be tried by a jury or judge in the United States, and the victims receive the justice they deserve," the prosecutors said.
Another friend of Christa's spoke out Thursday, reflecting on the late mother's life and legacy as a selfless, devoted friend.
"I certainly hope [justice will be served]," Sarah Bynum told "America's Newsroom" co-anchor Bill Hemmer.
"A fair trial in Texas is what we've been hoping for this whole time."
Bynum said she continues to think of and pray for Christa's family as they undergo a custody battle for Christa's children.
"I just keep them in my thoughts and prayers every day and their efforts to provide those kids a sense of normalcy throughout all of this. And while going through the legal and financial burdens of this custody fight," she said.
Lee Gilley maintains his innocence as prosecutors seek to bring him home to stand trial.
"My wife is dead, and they wrongly blame me. That's why I no longer have faith in the justice system," he said in a statement, per NBC News.
"I am innocent. I did not kill my wife. The only crime I committed was fleeing. I fled to avoid being killed. I went to great lengths to escape and seek protection in Italy."