Manzy Watson is guilty as charged of second-degree murder, a state district court judge decided Tuesday.

Watson, 36, stabbed to death 47-year-old Dorothy Horsman and injured her son on Aug. 20, 2012. Watson was charged with attempted second-degree murder for stabbing Zechariah Jones, but Judge Ron Ware said a verdict of aggravated battery better fit the crime.

Watson had pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity.

Watson lived with Horsman and her two sons on Legion Street. In a taped interview with police, he admitted stabbing Horsman, but said it was she who first picked up the knife. He kicked the knife from her hand and went “overboard,” he said.

Ware said that while there was “no doubt” Watson suffered from mental illness, he was not insane.

Watson was “calm, coherent and articulate and able to recall with a fair degree of accuracy most of the events” in his police interview, Ware said. “He had a very real consciousness of guilt.”

Even if Horsman picked up the knife, there was not evidence that she provoked Watson, Ware said. The two began arguing in the kitchen, but it was in the bedroom that Watson stabbed Horsman.

When Horsman left the kitchen and went to the bedroom she “made it very clear she wanted to disengage,” Ware said. The evidence did not show that Horsman attacked Watson or swung at him, Ware said. If Watson felt threatened, after he disarmed Horsman, he could have left again, Ware said.

“Instead, he armed himself and went into the bedroom,” Ware said.

The number of times Horsman was stabbed, the manner in which the stabbing took place (she on her back in a defensive position) and the severity of her injuries proved Watson had a specific intent to kill her, Ware said.

After Ware’s verdict was read, members of Horsman’s and Watson’s families hugged and cried in the hallway.

“It’s over,” Jones said after the verdict. “It’s finally done, after two years.”

Watson will be sentenced to life in prison on Oct. 14.

“It will help bring the family some closure,” said Bobby Holmes, who prosecuted the case, along with Lawrence Babineaux. “We believed all along the facts supported the charge of second-degree murder, and the court made the correct finding.”

Watson elected to let Ware hear his case, rather than a jury.

“We waived the jury because we believed Judge Ware would make a fair evaluation, but not expecting any particular verdict,” said defense attorney Andy Casanave, who represented Watson, along with Heath Dorsey. “Judge Ware gave a fair evaluation and reached a verdict he believed was fair. We will be filing an appeal of the conviction.”

While Dr. Patrick Hayes did not testify during the trial, his evaluation of Watson was entered into evidence. Hayes, who examined Watson while determining whether he was mentally fit to stand trial, found him to have schizotypal personality disorder, which affects a person’s relationships.

Ware said Watson was found in 2005 to have a major depressive disorder with psychotic tendencies, post-traumatic stress disorder and an avoidant personality disorder.

Casanave said the defense decided not to pursue an insanity verdict.

“We knew there was no amount of evidence that would get us there,” Casanave said. “He had mental illness, but not enough where a judge or a jury would find him not guilty by insanity.”

Watson’s mother and brother testified to his mental illness.

“Growing up, you could see something different about Manzy,” said Jonathan Watson, his oldest brother. “Over the years it progressed, in my opinion.”

Manzy Watson mostly kept to himself and was only sometimes able to communicate with other people, his mother said. He often lived in an outdoor kitchen connected to the family home, although he would sometimes leave for months without any communication, she said. He sometimes also lived in homeless shelters, she said.

Manzy Watson would have periods of stability where he would hold a job and keep a place to live, Jonathan Watson said. Then, he would pick up and leave it all behind, including belongings, Jonathan Watson said.

“He would let go of everything,” Jonathan Watson said. “It was from the girlfriend to the clothing.”

Both his mother and his brother said Manzy Watson had to be persuaded to seek treatment, often refusing to take his medication. He wasn’t known to be violent, though, they said.

Horsman was stabbed at least 10 times in the neck and chest, the wounds puncturing her lungs, Dr. Terry Welke, Calcasieu coroner, testified. She also had stab wounds in her right hand, which were consistent with defensive wounds, he said.

Horsman was not pregnant and was unable to get pregnant because of a previous surgery, Welke said.

Before her death, Horsman gave Watson a letter in which she claimed to be pregnant, defense attorney Andy Casanave said.(MGNonline)