Driver who killed 4 in SXSW crash in 2014 convicted, sentenced to life in prison

Video: Dashcam video: Rashad Owens sobriety test

The driver who killed four people in a 2014 crash at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin was convicted and sentenced to life in prison Friday.

A jury found Rashad Owens, 23, guilty on a charge of capital murder after more than three hours of deliberation, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

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Travis County prosecutors did not seek the death penalty, KXAN reported, triggering an automatic life sentence for the 23-year-old.

Owens drove a stolen car while drunk through barricades and into a crowd on Red River Street in Austin's downtown live music district while trying to escape police during the 2014 festival.

Steven Craenmehr, 35, of the Netherlands, and Jamie Ranae West, 27, died at the scene while Sandy Le, 26, and DeAndre Tatum, 19, died days later. In total, 25 people were injured in the incident.

Rashad Owens puts his hand to head as Shon Cook identifies her daughter, Jamie West in a photo from her wedding day, as she testifies during Owens' trial, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015, in Austin, Texas. Owens is charged with killing four people, including West, and injuring more than 20 others during the South by Southwest Music Festival in March 2014. He also faces 24 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Those offenses will remain pending until after his trial. (Laura Skelding/Austin American-Statesman via AP) AUSTIN CHRONICLE OUT, COMMUNITY IMPACT OUT, INTERNET AND TV MUST CREDIT PHOTOGRAPHER AND STATESMAN.COM, MAGS OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT less Rashad Owens puts his hand to head as Shon Cook identifies her daughter, Jamie West in a photo from her wedding day, as she testifies during Owens' trial, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015, in Austin, Texas. Owens is ... more Photo: Laura Skelding, Laura Skelding/Austin American-Statesman Via AP Photo: Laura Skelding, Laura Skelding/Austin American-Statesman Via AP Image 1 of / 119 Caption Close Driver who killed 4 in SXSW crash in 2014 convicted, sentenced to life in prison 1 / 119 Back to Gallery

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The American-Statesman reported that police dash camera footage played during trial proceedings Wednesday in Travis County court showed Owens asking Austin police officer Robert Mitchell whether the officer planned to kill him.

Mitchell had taken Owens to a parking garage near the Austin Police Department's headquarters to question Owens, according to the newspaper.

"You are not going to kill me, are you?" Owens asked Mitchell from the back of the police cruiser. Mitchell responded, "No!"

At another point, Owens said, "Sir, all I care about is me not killing nobody. I didn't mean to hurt nobody. I was just scared. I didn't mean to."

Owens had a blood alcohol content of .114, KXAN reported, exceeding the legal limit of .08.

jfechter@mySA.com

Twitter: @JFreports