THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 30, 1996 TAG: 9608300563
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 61 lines
Chauncey Jackson, the Norfolk teen-ager accused of fatally shooting Ronald L. Bonney Jr. in Diggs Town two years ago, was convicted of capital murder Thursday.
The conviction means jurors now must decide Jackson's fate: life in jail or death. The sentencing phase will begin this morning.
The jury of nine women and three men deliberated 2 1/2 hours Thursday morning. In addition to capital murder, Jackson, 18, was convicted of conspiracy, attempted robbery, possession of stolen goods and two firearm charges. Testimony ended Wednesday.
Jackson was 16 when he killed Bonney on Aug. 31, 1994. While Bonney was sitting in his truck on Vine Street, Jackson climbed into the passenger seat, produced a gun and told Bonney to ``give it up,'' according a statement that his co-defendant, Calvin Outlaw, gave to police. Jackson then shot Bonney three times with a .25-caliber handgun.
Bonney's family and Jackson's friends and family wept when the verdict was read in court. Jackson, usually stoic, began to cry soon after the verdict was read.
Outlaw was convicted last year for his role in the killing and sentenced to 68 years in prison.
This is the second time this summer that a teen-ager has been convicted of capital murder in Norfolk Circuit Court. In July, Royale Stewart, who also was 16 when he killed a man, was convicted of capital murder. Stewart was sentenced to life in jail without parole.
Jackson, however, will be eligible for parole if he is sentenced to jail. Virginia's no-parole policy applies only to crimes committed after Jan. 1, 1995.
Prosecutors and defense lawyers said the key evidence was Jackson's testimony. Throughout the trial, defense attorneys James Broccoletti and Jon Babineau argued that investigators did not follow proper procedure. They also said police held Jackson until they had a statement they wanted.
Broccoletti and Babineau hammered at what they considered to be several flaws in the prosecution's case, including a forced confession and a lack of evidence for the attempted robbery charge.
But prosecutor Lisa McKeel said the evidence corroborated Jackson's confession.
Prosecutors now will push for the death penalty. ``We have the defendant's prior record and a number of witnesses about the aspect of future danger,'' McKeel said.
In the sentencing phase, prosecutors probably will call witnesses to tell the jury about Jackson's failure to appear at a December bond hearing and the series of felony charges he racked up while on the lam.
Babineau said the defense will call witnesses who grew up in Jackson's neighborhood, as well as family, clergy and a psychiatrist.
``You're going to see a side of Chauncey . . . who could very easily be the boy next door,'' said Babineau, who also defended Stewart. ``Our consideration is to let the jury see the real person Chauncey is.''
Their strategy for the sentencing phase will be to show jurors that Jackson would not be a danger if he is behind bars. ILLUSTRATION: Chauncey Jackson is the second teen-ager this summer
to be convicted of capital murder in Norfolk.
KEYWORDS: MURDER TRIAL VERDICT SHOOTING by CNB