Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 15, 1993 TAG: 9312150246
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Corey A. Payne, 17, received the sentence - the maximum punishment for second-degree murder - from Roanoke County Circuit Judge Kenneth Trabue.
Trabue said anything less than the maximum would cheapen the value of the life of Ivory Williams, who was shot four times and left lying on the sidewalk of a public housing development.
Payne earlier had pleaded guilty to the March 24 slaying on Centre Avenue Northwest.
In testimony Tuesday, Payne admitted that the killing stemmed from a crack cocaine business at which he sometimes made $500 a night, Chief Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Betty Jo Anthony said.
Williams, 29, of Roanoke, owed Payne some drug money, Anthony said.
Anthony said earlier that Payne borrowed a .22-caliber handgun from a friend and was riding around with two other youths when he spotted Williams at the Lansdowne housing development.
Payne got out of the car, shot Williams during a brief argument and then fled, Anthony said.
A passing motorist saw Williams lying on the sidewalk and called police. Williams had been shot in the head, neck, chest and abdomen and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Payne was arrested three weeks later, Anthony said, after he was "bragging to guys in the neighborhood that he had killed Williams."
Earlier this year, a judge ordered that he be tried as an adult. Payne had faced a life sentence for first-degree murder, but pleaded guilty to a reduced charge. His guilty plea came after a mistrial was declared when a juror said she could not keep an open mind about the case.
Payne, who has a record of drug-related offenses, testified Tuesday that another youth with whom he was riding forced him to shoot Williams.
He will be eligible for parole after serving about one-sixth of his sentence.
Keywords:
ROMUR
by CNB