THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, October 25, 1995            TAG: 9510250442
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL  
TYPE: METRO BRIEFS
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                     LENGTH: Short :   40 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** The sentencing of Kelly Dara is scheduled for Nov. 29. A Metro Brief Wednesday had a wrong date. Dara and her co-defendant, Joshua Johnson, were convicted in June of first-degree murder in the stabbing death of Joseph D. Garcia III. Correction published Thursday, October 26, 1995. ***************************************************************** LIFE IN PRISON PLUS 20

Joshua Johnson, 18, was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison plus 20 years in the stabbing death of Joseph D. Garcia III.

Johnson and his co-defendant, Kelly Dara, 18, were convicted in June of first-degree murder, attempted robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. Dara faces a possible life term. Her sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 13.

Johnson testified at his trial that he stabbed Garcia to protect Dara. But prosecutors said Johnson and Dara lured Garcia to Dara's home in Rosemont Forest to kill him, steal his car and drive to Florida. Garcia was stabbed four times in the back and chest.

After the slaying, Johnson and Dara fled to North Carolina. Police found them the next day in an Outer Banks motel. Several teenage friends testified at Johnson's trial that he told them he wanted to kill someone to steal a car.

Dara was the sole witness at her trial, contradicting four witnesses who testified she told them in advance about her plan to kill Garcia.

KEYWORDS: SENTENCING MURDER by CNB