THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 19, 1995 TAG: 9501190383
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
A Dare County jury quickly returned a guilty verdict against three Norfolk men on charges stemming from a robbery-shooting at a birthday party in Manteo on July 26.
Gregory Flemming, 19, Ralph Lamont Flemming, 21, and Norman Lee Robinson, 37, were convicted and sentenced on seven counts ranging from assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill to first-degree burglary.
A fourth defendant, 20-year-old Scott T. Perkins of Norfolk, was acquitted of all charges in the eight-count indictment.
During the seven-day trial, there was conflicting testimony over whether the shooting was drug-related. The 12-member jury cameback after an hour and 40 minutes of deliberation.
Gregory Flemming was sentenced to seven consecutive 20-year sentences. He was convicted on one count of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, three counts of second-degree kidnapping, two counts of armed robbery and a charge of first-degree burglary. He was acquitted on one count of armed robbery. He was awaiting trial in Norfolk on a drug charge at the time of the incident.
Prosecutors maintained that Gregory Flemming was the ringleader and triggerman who burst into Kimberly Spruill's mobile home shortly after 1 a.m., shooting Dion Daniels of Manteo, and kidnapping and robbing other party guests.
Flemming contended he shot Daniels in self-defense after Daniels fired first.
Ralph Flemming was sentenced to 107 years after being convicted on the same charges as his younger brother. Robinson was sentenced to 87 years in prison.
The prosecution alleged that the four conspired to kill Daniels, and to ``take back what they thought belonged to them'' after a drug-related dispute between Gregory Flemming and Daniels two weeks before the crime.
Each of the court-appointed defense attorneys argued that the testimony of four eyewitnesses to the shooting was rife with inconsistencies, and that there was no conspiracy to kill Daniels.
All three of the convicted defendants say they will appeal. Superior Court Judge Jerry Tillett denied a request for their release on bond.
KEYWORDS: MURDER TRIAL CONVICTION by CNB