Closing arguments begin in case of mother accused of shooting son

A prosecutor and a defense lawyer gave the same advice to jurors Monday: Trust in Kevin Cooney.

But which of Cooney’s versions of how he was shot should they believe?

After two weeks of testimony in the attempted murder trial of the man’s mother, Linda Cooney, a Clark County jury listened to nearly four hours of closing arguments by prosecutor Michael Staudaher and defense lawyer Michael Becker.

Staudaher said the jury should believe Kevin Cooney when he told hospital staff and ex-girlfriends that he was afraid of his mother and that she shot him.

Becker said they should believe him when he told a Las Vegas police officer and others that he attacked his mother, and the gun accidentally went off in the struggle.

Prosecutors say Linda Cooney shot Kevin Cooney June 28, 2011, during a feud over his then-girlfriend Karina Taylor. Prosecutors said that before the shooting, Linda Cooney was trying to sabotage her son’s relationship by sending text messages to colleagues saying his girlfriend was “an evil whore.”

Defense lawyers have said the evidence shows that Kevin Cooney was responsible for his injuries.

Linda Cooney, 66, faces four counts, including attempted murder, battery with a deadly weapon and intimidating a witness. She also is charged with stalking Taylor. If convicted of all counts, she faces three to 65 years in prison.

Becker pointed to Facebook messages to Taylor before the shooting that show Kevin Cooney was angry with his mother for meddling in their relationship and suggested he might kill her.

“Kevin is filled with rage. He’s threatened to kill his mother. He’s ready to crack,” Becker said. “Later on, what happens? He cracks.”

Kevin Cooney testified on April 14 that he pummeled his mother for interfering in his relationship with Taylor and threatened to kill her. He said he went for the handgun hidden near the downstairs sofa. His mother got it first and fled. As the 5-foot-7-inch Linda Cooney cradled the gun, Kevin Cooney, who is 6 feet 9 inches tall, jumped on her and grabbed the gun. As he pulled the gun away from her, it fired, striking him in the neck.

One of Kevin Cooney’s ex-girlfriends told the jury that, during a hospital visit, he said he was sitting on the couch in his family’s Summerlin home when his mother shot him.

Staudaher questioned the credibility of Kevin Cooney’s story because it was not supported by the physical evidence, including crime scene pictures showing Linda Cooney with only one significant bruise on her. Staudaher also questioned the credibility of his brother, Las Vegas police officer Christopher Cooney, who testified that their mother had told him she was attacked and the gun went off during the struggle.

Staudaher said Linda Cooney was a puppet master who had power and control over her two children, and when that was threatened by a girlfriend, she would harass and disrupt the relationship.

“If she can’t have them, then nobody will,” Staudaher said.

He said the two sons were being manipulated by their mother to help her escape conviction.

But Becker said that it was Staudaher who was manipulating the evidence to fit the scenario he had created. It’s documented, Becker said, that Kevin Cooney “fantasized about killing his mom.”

Becker alluded to Linda Cooney’s acquittal for fatally shooting her ex-husband, James Cooney, with a .357 Magnum more than two decades ago. A Florida jury found that she had acted in self-defense. Kevin Cooney, who testified on his mother’s behalf at that trial, was shot with the same gun.

Becker said Linda Cooney was a domestic violence victim then, and it wasn’t surprising that Kevin Cooney, like his father, had attacked his mother.

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” he said.

While no defense witnesses said Linda Cooney acted in self-defense in this case, Becker suggested it is a reasonable explanation.

Becker also said the reason why Kevin Cooney and Christopher Cooney have not cooperated with the police investigation in the case is because they may be “distrustful of the legal process.”

Closing arguments will continue today, after which the jury is expected to start deliberating.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.