The son of deceased trucking magnate Bill Hall Jr. lost a court battle to wrestle control of his father’s estate away from his estranged mother, who’s serving a two-year prison sentence for murdering her late husband.

Justin Hall, 30, asked Bexar Probate Judge Tom Rickhoff to give him and his sister, Dominique Hall, their father’s half of the couple’s estate. Bill died without a will, so his share of the estate passed to his wife Frances A. Hall.

Dominique, 34, sided with her mother in opposing Justin’s request to place their father’s share of the business in “constructive trust.” Rickhoff’s ruling confirms Frances’ claim to 100 percent of the Bill Hall Jr. Trucking companies and other assets.

Dominique has been running the trucking empire while Frances, who co-owned the businesses with her husband, serves out her remaining time in prison. She is scheduled to be released in September.

Photo: Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News Photo: William Luther, Staff / San Antonio Express-News Photo: Express-News File Photo

At a court hearing Thursday, Mark Braswell, a lawyer for Justin, argued that Frances should be disqualified from receiving Bill’s half of their estate because she shouldn’t benefit financially from her criminal act.

A Bexar County District Court jury in September 2016 found Frances guilty of murder and aggravated assault. Prosecutors said Frances wanted to kill her husband’s longtime paramour for ruining her marriage but ended up killing her husband instead.

Frances, 54, was accused of killing Bill by knocking his motorcycle off the road with her Cadillac Escalade, then hitting another SUV driven by his lover, Bonnie Contreras — all in a highway chase Oct. 10, 2013, 2013, on South Loop 1604. Bill was 50.

The jury, though, handed Frances the lightest possible murder sentence, agreeing with her defense lawyers that she acted out of “sudden passion.”

The jury’s finding of “sudden passion” thus “negates the intent necessary to establish the willful taking of a life under the Texas Estates Code provisions dealing with forfeiture” of property, said Keith Miller, a probate lawyer for Frances. “It’s a shame that Frances Hall, after suffering the loss of her husband, is now being sued by her son.”

Rickhoff agreed in a brief written ruling denying Justin’s request to put his father’s half of the estate into a “constructive trust.”

“The conviction relied upon by (Justin) does not meet the predicate for imposing a constructive trust,” Rickhoff’s ruling reads.

Ronald S. Schmidt, who represents Dominique, who also is the estate’s independent administrator, said she opposed Justin’s legal fight even though she could have financially benefited.

“She’s always believed that her mother is the rightful heir and beneficiary, having survived her husband and not having been involved in an intentional act that ended her husband’s life,” Schmidt said.

Braswell said he disagrees with the judge’s ruling.

“We will decide our next step after we finish reviewing his decision,” Braswell said.

Bill and Frances’ estate was valued at $15.5 million in a 2014 court filing in the probate case. At one time, Bill Hall Jr. Trucking had a fleet of more than 100 trucks.

Bill’s share, which was about $7.7 million, has dwindled by $6 million, Braswell has said, blaming Dominique for selling off assets and ruining the businesses. Two of the family trucking companies are in bankruptcy.

Rickhoff has previously awarded the proceeds from multiple life insurance policies on Bill’s life to Frances after Justin indicated he wanted the money to go to his mother.

Braswell said Justin was being advised at the time by a lawyer who was conflicted because he also was representing Frances, Dominique and the estate. Justin is suing the lawyer for legal malpractice.

Patrick Danner is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of his stories here. | pdanner@express-news.net | @AlamoPD