THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 7, 1995 TAG: 9510070322
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: METRO BRIEFS
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
A man convicted of slaying 20-year-old Elijah Thornton III in August 1993 was sentenced Friday to life plus eight years in prison.
Joseph L. Williams, 21, was arrested eight months after the murder and originally charged with capital murder, robbery, burglary and three firearms counts. Prosecutors originally intended to seek the death penalty, records show.
In November 1994, Williams accepted a plea agreement with prosecutors. He was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery and two firearms counts. The other charges were deferred as part of the agreement.
Williams was one of four men charged with breaking into an apartment in the 7900 block of Ransom Road in the early hours of Aug. 21, 1993. Thornton, of Portsmouth, was shot once in the chest with a handgun when he tried to escape or defend himself, records show.
A tip led police to the Sea King Motel & Apartments in April 1994, where Williams was arrested.
KEYWORDS: PLEA BARGAIN SENTENCING MURDER ROBBERY by CNB