Woman convicted in Philly WWII vet’s slaying
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – A woman has been convicted of second-degree murder in the shooting death of an elderly World War II veteran in north Philadelphia 2½ years ago.
The Philadelphia Inquirer says jurors deliberated for about two hours Wednesday before convicting 19-year-old India Spellman in the August 2010 slaying of 87-year-old George Greaves in Cedarbrook and an earlier gunpoint robbery.
Defense attorney Harry Seay earlier urged acquittal, saying the charges were based on the statement of an alleged accomplice. Prosecutors said other witnesses backed up the 14-year-old former co-defendant, who was convicted in juvenile court and testified that Spellman suggested the robberies.
Spellman, whose statement to police alleged that the youth killed the victim, didn’t testify. She earlier rejected a plea bargain calling for a 20- to 40-year prison sentence.