Man gets life sentence for fatally stabbing housemate

A day after convicting him of murder in a deadly 2015 stabbing attack near Pflugerville, a Travis County jury sentenced Christopher Harris to life in prison on Friday.

Prosecutors presented evidence in the weeklong trial that showed Harris, 30, killed his housemate, Byron Roberson, and injured two other men, including Roberson’s adult son.

The two surviving victims took the witness stand and identified Harris as the attacker.

“Justice was served,” prosecutor Leslie Booker said. “The district attorney’s office greatly appreciates the jury for serving justice on behalf of the victims by sentencing the defendant to life.”

Investigators say Harris stabbed Roberson 24 times, first inside the home on Endless Shore Lane in Northeastern Travis County and then in a neighbor’s front yard. Four hours later he returned to the crime scene covered in blood and wearing nothing but his underwear and socks, the affidavit said. He had stab wounds to his hands and his thigh.

His response, according to investigators, when questioned about his injuries was “Byron, Diamond.”

Prosecutors did not present a motive for the murder, but surviving victim Diamond Roberson said he thinks his dad might have been getting ready to evict Harris.

Diamond Roberson and his friend Reshard Rogers both testified that they were in an upstairs bedroom playing video games on the evening of Aug. 7, 2015 when Harris entered and said a former housemate, Brian, was at the front door. Roberson said he went downstairs but discovered no one at the front door or the back door. Roberson said Harris then sneaked up behind him and stabbed him in the neck.

Roberson said he fell face down in the kitchen and then followed Harris up the stairs before collapsing.

Harris testified that he was actually a victim and that the real attacker was a man who resembled him, with dreadlocks.

Multiple people testified that Byron Roberson, 44, was friendly to everyone and rented out space in his four-bedroom home to people who were down on luck and trying to get their life back in order.