
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, September 21, 1993                   TAG: 9309210211
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MANASSAS                                LENGTH: Short

JURY URGES DEATH IN SHOP MURDER

A Prince William County jury decided Monday that a Manassas man should die in the state's electric chair for fatally shooting a pizza-shop manager during a robbery.

Carl Hamilton Chichester, 30, was convicted last week of capital murder, armed robbery and two weapon violations by a Circuit Court jury after five hours of deliberation over two days. The jury set a life sentence for the armed robbery plus six years for the weapon violations.

Chichester was convicted of shooting Timothy Rigney, 30, in the chest during a late-night robbery at the pizza restaurant Aug. 16, 1991, after Rigney failed to open the cash register promptly.

After hearing a day of testimony during the sentencing phase on the capital murder conviction, the jury deliberated for 30 minutes before recommending the death penalty.

The jury's sentence must be confirmed by a judge. Under state law, the judge may reduce it to life imprisonment.

by CNB