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

DATE: FRIDAY, May 5, 1995                   TAG: 9505050061
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

MAN GUILTY OF KILLING HIS BROTHER

Victor R. Basham, 25, pleaded no contest to a charge of second-degree murder. Under an agreement reached in Roanoke Circuit Court, he will face up to 10 years in prison for killing Kenneth Allen Basham, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Wanda DeWease said.

Kenneth Basham, 34, was stabbed repeatedly with a butcher knife in a murder for which no clear motive has emerged.

When police were called to the 700 block of 31st Street Northwest about 2:30 a.m. on Jan. 14, they found Kenneth Basham on the ground with seven stab wounds in his abdomen and hands. The cuts to his hands were characterized as defensive wounds, meaning he likely suffered them while trying to deflect a knife. He died several hours later at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

Victor Basham was found standing over his brother, police said; he later told authorities he had stabbed his brother in self-defense during a scuffle. A kitchen knife with a 10-inch blade was found nearby.

In a statement to police, Victor Basham said he had argued with his brother about a woman at a downtown bar. He also said his brother had "hurt his pride" by hitting him in the face at another point in the night.

At the time of his death, Kenneth Basham worked as office manager of Oncology and Hematology Associates at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

Victor Basham had been charged with first-degree murder. But Assistant Public Defender Jackie Talevi has argued that there is no evidence of premeditation to support the charge.

As part of an agreement accepted by Judge Clifford Weckstein, the charge was reduced in exchange for Basham's no-contest plea. Second-degree murder carries a maximum punishment of 40 years, but under the agreement, prosecutors will ask for no more than 10 years.

DeWease said she intends to ask for the maximum allowed under the agreement when Basham is sentenced July 21.

Keywords:
ROMUR