THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 1, 1995 TAG: 9509010478
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOE JACKSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
A jury on Thursday recommended a 55-year prison sentence for a former Norfolk State University student convicted of killing Gerard Edwards and wounding Ronald Richardson in their dorm last year.
James Powers is the fourth defendant to go on trial in the attack in the early hours of Jan. 18, 1994, at NSU's Samuel F. Scott Hall.
After two days of testimony, jurors found Powers guilty of first-degree murder, malicious wounding, conspiracy and two firearms counts.
Edwards was shot up to 10 times in his room, a victim of gang rivalry, prosecutor Phillip Evans said. Edwards from Washington had befriended a group of Washington-area students who called themselves the D.C. Boys.
Ronald Richardson was shot once and lost a kidney.
Powers was arrested this year in New York City. The other students arrested in the case were Shamont Burrell, Derrick Washington and Christopher Skinner, all members of a group of New Yorkers who called themselves the 718 Crew.
A fifth student, Anthony Britton, is still being sought.
On March 10, a jury found Burrell guilty of the same charges and recommended 68 years in prison. Judge John E. Clarkson subsequently upheld the recommendation.
Skinner and Washington - who made plea agreements - testified against Powers and Burrell. Skinner was sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiracy and 12 months for misdemeanor accessory after the fact.
Washington - who has not been sentenced - made a deal for a 25-year maximum sentence.
According to prosecutors, Scott Hall was plagued by gang rivalries. Richardson, caught in the crossfire, was not a member of either group.
The night before the shooting, the D.C. Boys and the 718 Crew fought at a university-sponsored party at a Newport News roller-skating rink. Edwards outslugged Burrell in that fight, several witnesses said.
The state's case against Powers was based on the testimony of Skinner and Washington. Powers, though not directly involved in the shooting, was portrayed as the leader, deciding who would be lookout and who would pull the trigger.
According to Skinner, he, Burrell and Washington met in Powers' room before the slaying. Over pizza, they planned to take revenge for the fight. Burrell, who had moved from Edwards' room the previous semester, still knew the combination to the door's keypunch lock, enabling him to get into the room.
Powers maintained his innocence during the two-day trial. He said he was not present during the shooting, but was downstairs in the dorm lobby.
Skinner also said that he did not remember whether Powers was present during the planning. But Washington gave a different version, saying that Powers was present and deeply involved.
Michael Fasanaro, Powers' lawyer, said Washington could not be believed because he is negotiating for the best deal from the state - a deal that depended on his testimony in this case.
According to Washington, Powers handed out the assignments - Skinner and Washington would be lookouts, Burrell would have the gun. In an earlier trial, Washington also said Britton accompanied Burrell into the dorm room.
Burrell led the way to Edwards' room, followed by Britton and Washington. Skinner went down the hall as a lookout but then ran away. Burrell punched in the combination, then stepped inside. Then there were shots and all three ran, Washington said.
Afterward, all five New Yorkers left the school.
Powers will be sentenced Oct. 17.
KEYWORDS: MURDER SHOOTING ASSAULT
TRIAL by CNB