Video shows Michael Marin putting his hands on his mouth after the verdict was read
A man accused of torching his Biltmore mansion because he couldn't afford the mortgage was found guilty by a jury, and then died. It was all caught on courtroom video.
After the guilty verdict was read Thursday, the judge and lawyers were having a discussion without the jury present when Michael Marin's face turned red. He then collapsed to the floor. His attorneys attempted to help him as paramedics were summoned, and the judge cleared the courtroom.
Marin was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Courtroom observers say that after the verdict was read, Marin looked distraught, put something in his mouth with his left hand, and then took a drink of water. Several minutes later, he took another drink of water and then collapsed.
The judge ordered all video and audio of Marin collapsing not to be used.
The fire happened at Marin's $3.5 million mansion at Biltmore Estates in the summer of 2009. Marin told firefighters he got out of the burning home by putting on his scuba air tank and walking to safety.
