Rapper C-Murder, the younger brother of Master P, was found guilty of second-degree murder on Tuesday (September 30). The Times-Picayune is reporting that after less than four hours of deliberation, a Louisiana jury returned a guilty verdict--which carries an automatic life sentence.
C-Murder, whose real name is Corey Miller, was found guilty of shooting and killing 16-year-old Steve Thomas during an argument at Club Platinum in Harvey, Louisiana, on January 12, 2002. Thomas used a fake ID to get into the 18-and-older club the night he was gunned down.
While no one was able to testify as to what started the dispute, one witness testified that she heard C- Murder say to Thomas, "Do you know who the f--k I am?" Thomas was then allegedly beaten by C-Murder and several men before being fatally shot in the heart.
During the trial, the prosecution presented two witness who identified Miller as the killer, though neither witness could actually testify to having seen Miller fire the shot. Both witnesses testified that they saw Miller extend his hand, saw sparks fly and heard a blast. Meanwhile, the defense presented nine witnesses who said the rapper had nothing to do with the shooting, but the nine witnesses gave different accounts of Miller's whereabouts in the nightclub when the shooting occurred.
While C-Murder's father, Percy Miller Sr., told the Associated Press that the family would appeal the decision. The victim's father, George Thomas, expressed relief after the verdict. "Now Steve can rest in peace," he said.
Master P was in court during one morning of testimony. He told reporters, "It's a shame that they're trying an innocent man. There's no way my brother did what they said he did."
C-Murder, whose real name is Corey Miller, was found guilty of shooting and killing 16-year-old Steve Thomas during an argument at Club Platinum in Harvey, Louisiana, on January 12, 2002. Thomas used a fake ID to get into the 18-and-older club the night he was gunned down.
While no one was able to testify as to what started the dispute, one witness testified that she heard C- Murder say to Thomas, "Do you know who the f--k I am?" Thomas was then allegedly beaten by C-Murder and several men before being fatally shot in the heart.
During the trial, the prosecution presented two witness who identified Miller as the killer, though neither witness could actually testify to having seen Miller fire the shot. Both witnesses testified that they saw Miller extend his hand, saw sparks fly and heard a blast. Meanwhile, the defense presented nine witnesses who said the rapper had nothing to do with the shooting, but the nine witnesses gave different accounts of Miller's whereabouts in the nightclub when the shooting occurred.
While C-Murder's father, Percy Miller Sr., told the Associated Press that the family would appeal the decision. The victim's father, George Thomas, expressed relief after the verdict. "Now Steve can rest in peace," he said.
Master P was in court during one morning of testimony. He told reporters, "It's a shame that they're trying an innocent man. There's no way my brother did what they said he did."