THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 7, 1997 TAG: 9701070216
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 30 lines
The two men convicted of murder in the shooting death of a motorist stranded on Route 44 last January were sentenced in Circuit Court Monday, one to a life term and the other to 40 years in prison.
The triggerman, 21-year-old Cory Delaurencio, was sentenced by Judge Frederick B. Lowe to life in prison plus 23 years in the fatal shooting of Traibeon L. Thomas, 26. Delaurencio killed Thomas with a gunshot to the back of the head as Thomas leaned into his disabled Hyundai Elantra in the eastbound lane of Route 44 near Laskin Road on the night of Jan. 14.
Delaurencio was convicted by a jury Dec. 6 of capital murder, robbery and a weapons violation. The jury recommended a life sentence.
His codefendant, Aaron T. Merritt, 24, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and robbery Oct. 29. He was sentenced Monday by Judge Jerome B. Friedman to 40 years in prison.
Prosecutor Cynthia Shepherd said Merritt's plea agreement prevented Friedman from giving Merritt a life sentence.
The two men were attempting to steal stereo equipment from Thomas' disabled car when Thomas returned to the car and surprised them. After shooting Thomas, Delaurencio stole Thomas' wallet and went with Merritt to a nightclub at the Oceana Naval Base. Both Merritt and Delaurencio were enlisted men in the Navy at the time of the shooting.
KEYWORDS: SENTENCING MURDER SHOOTING