This afternoon, a jury convicted 18-year-old Jamaal Henry of the March 15th, 2003 murder of Alphonso Vernon.
The jury of 6 men and 6 women took 3 hours and 48 minutes to reach the unanimous verdict.
In the murder trial, an eyewitness called by prosecutor Carlo Mason told the court that on the night of the murder he saw Jamaal take out a gun and shoot Alphonso Vernon. Vernon died 40 minutes later.
In his defense, Jamaal Henry gave a statement from the dock saying he did not kill Alphonso Vernon because on the day of the murder he was at home. Despite that claim, the 18 year old was convicted this afternoon in the Supreme Court. His aunt Marion Henry who sat through the trial gave us her reaction to the verdict.
Marion Henry, Convicted Murderer's Aunt
"I think the best thing for his mother to do is to try for an appeal, get an appeal for him. I don't think he got a fair decision."
Did you expect this verdict?
Marion Henry,
"Well in this you expect anything. You can't say you wish for the best and not for the worst. If the worst come you have to accept it."
Your nephew is only 18 and convicted of murder?
Marion Henry,
"Yes still young and have more to go but you know life will go on for him... it will go on."
Is it out of character for him to have killed someone? I am sure you knew him growing up so is this something he would do?
Marion Henry,
"No, no. Jamal is quiet. He hardly talks. He doesn't say anything so I guess people who don't talk are the ones who you don't know what they will do. But I think he got a rotten deal, a real rotten deal."
Jamaal Henry will be sentenced by Justice Troadio Gonzalez on May 17th.