[imagesource: Getty Images]

Edward Leclair was on trial in Denton, Texas, on five counts of sexual abuse against children when he shocked the court.

Besides the timing of his death being noteworthy, the way he seemed to exit the world is also intriguing.

He had been free on bond until the verdict Thursday, where the jury found him guilty of child sexual assault, officials said.

It was at that moment that he chugged a mysterious liquid from a water bottle and then promptly died.

Leclair’s defence attorney, Mike Howard, confirmed that his client had taken a “long drink from a water bottle” while listening to the verdict.

The attorney did not know what was in the bottle, per NBC News:

“I looked over and noticed him drinking,” Howard said.

“His hand was shaking. At the time, I thought it was shaking because of the verdict. Then he kept drinking and drinking.”

Denton County Assistant District Attorney Jamie Beck mentioned that the liquid seemed cloudy, per The New York Post:

“Our investigator noticed him chug the water,” Beck said. “He told the bailiff he might want to go check on him. The bailiff did. He was unconscious in the holding cell.”

Image: Frisco Police Department

“Shortly after entering the holdover cell, he started vomiting, and emergency services were called,” Leclair’s defense attorney said.

Medics tried to revive Leclair but he was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Leclair was a former Navy mechanic and corporate recruiter. He was indicted two years ago on five counts of sexual assault on a person between the age of 14 and 17 – charges that he denied.

After three-and-a-half hours of deliberation, with possible punishment ranging from probation to 100 years in jail, Leclair was formally convicted.

[sources:nbcnews&nypost]