THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 10, 1995 TAG: 9503100360
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
A jury on Thursday recommended a sentence of life in prison plus 116 years for a man convicted in the 1993 murder of the nephew of a retired Circuit Court judge.
Larry B. Knight was found guilty Wednesday afternoon of first-degree murder, robbery, armed burglary and two counts of use of a firearm.
Knight was charged with the May 1993 slaying of 22-year-old Sean Gutterman in his apartment in Wards Corner. The victim was the nephew of retired Circuit Judge Morris B. Gutterman.
Police found Gutterman shot to death in his apartment in the 7600 block of Bondale Ave. when they responded to a tripped burglary alarm.
Witnesses told police they heard the apartment door being broken open and several shots being fired. They said they saw three men running from the area just before the body was found.
Police believe the break-in and killing were drug-related.
The case had its ups and downs. At first, police issued a murder warrant for another man, Gregory Williams, based on a statement Knight made to police, court records show. But detectives later learned that Knight had shot at Williams two or three nights before the murder. Also, hospital records showed Williams had a hand injury and could not have fired a gun.
Knight's official sentencing is scheduled for April 25.
KEYWORDS: MURDER ROBBERY SHOOTING TRIAL
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