Woman Convicted of 2nd-Degree Murder in Fight Over Boyfriend
Posted on: Tuesday, 9 May 2006, 09:02 CDT
By Michelle Washington, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va.
May 9--NORFOLK -- Jurors convicted Ericka Parks on Monday of second-degree murder and a weapon charge for a January 2005 shooting over a boyfriend.
Jurors recommended Parks, 24, serve a total of 25 years for the crimes. Parks is scheduled to be formally sentenced in July.
She was accused of killing Adrian Taylor, 21, who was found dead in her home on the 8600 block of Albemarle Drive. She had been shot in the head.
During the trial last week in Circuit Court, Parks testified that the shooting had been an accident.
She and Taylor had several discussions about the man they both were dating, Parks said. The man fathered Taylor's child.
Parks went to Taylor's home early that morning to continue the talk, but the discussion became an argument, and the argument turned into pushing and fighting. Parks said Taylor pointed a gun at her. The gun fired as they both struggled for control of the weapon, Parks said.
Taylor's 4 -month-old baby lay crying on the bed, prosecutor Amanda Roberts said .
The prosecutor told jurors Parks' explanation did not fit the facts. Parks left her car running outside, Roberts said, and took Taylor's key when she left to lock the door behind her, the baby still inside.
Taylor "ended up with a gunshot wound to the back of her head, laying in a pool of her own blood," Roberts said.
Parks' attorney , James Broccoletti, said his client was a college student who had never before been in trouble.
"It was an accident," Broccoletti told jurors, "a tragic accident."
* Reach Michelle Washington at (757) 446-2287 or michelle.washington@pilotonline.com.
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Copyright (c) 2006, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk, Va.
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Source: The Virginian-Pilot
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