Post by youngblackmack on Oct 2, 2003 16:27:02 GMT -5
C-Murder Found Guilty Of Second-Degree Murder, Receives Life Sentence
A Louisiana jury found C-Murder guilty of second-degree murder on Tuesday, a crime that carries a mandatory life sentence, according to a spokesperson for the Jefferson Parish district attorney's office.
The younger brother of No Limit boss Master P, C-Murder was on trial for the shooting of 16-year-old Steve Thomas outside a Louisiana nightclub in January of last year (see "C-Murder Faces Second-Degree Murder Charge In Teen's Slaying").
The defense team was not able to convince the jury of the rapper's innocence, despite presenting nine witnesses who said they did not see C-Murder, whose real name is Corey Miller, pull the trigger or participate in the beating.
Miller's father, Percy Miller Sr., told the Associated Press that the family would appeal the verdict.
Thomas was beaten and shot to death on January 12 during a fight outside the Platinum Club in Harvey, Louisiana. While two prosecution witnesses testified that Miller, 30, was involved in the beating of Thomas and they heard the gun fire, neither saw the murder weapon. The defense brought nine witnesses who said he was not involved in the killing. Those witnesses' testimony, however, gave differing descriptions of Miller's clothing and had him in several different places in the club.
The trial was interrupted during final arguments on Tuesday when an appeals court ruled that prosecutors could tell jurors that they could find Miller innocent of second-degree murder but guilty of manslaughter, which would have carried a 40-year prison sentence.
The victim was participating in an MC battle at the Platinum Club on the night of the shooting. Prosecutors portrayed him as an aspiring rapper whose bedroom was plastered with posters of his rap idol, C-Murder.
Credit MTV.com