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Brittney Watson, 21, of South Bend (St. Joseph County booking photo) (January 24, 2013) |
SOUTH BEND – After a 3-day jury trial, a 21-year-old woman has been convicted of a murder that happened more than two years ago in South Bend.
On November 30, 2010, Cornelius Miller of Chicago was shot to death in a home at 518 S. Lombardy Dr. Shots were fired through the back door.
Brittney Watson on Thursday was found guilty of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Sentencing is set for February 25. Sentencing for murder is between 45 and 65 years and between 20 and 50 years for conspiracy to commit murder.
Four other people were also charged in Miller’s death.
In September 2012, 20-year-old Stephon Rice pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced two months later to 35 years behind bars, although 10 years were suspended.
Rice’s 23-year-old brother, Steven Rice, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Brandon Rogers and Rene Vasquez also pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal. All three remain in custody at the St. Joseph County Jail waiting to be sentenced.
Prosecutors said Watson, upset after an argument with Miller earlier on the day Miller was killed, called the Rices in Chicago to have Miller “taken care of.”
According to court documents, the Rices came to South Bend to carry out the crime at Watson’s request.
