JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Prosecutors finally have a conviction for the murder of Georgia tourist Mary Ann Stephens more than two years ago.
A jury found Juan Curtis guilty of first degree murder and armed robbery late Monday in the case that received national attention in an Oscar-winning documentary on the wrongful arrest and subsequent acquittal of 15-year-old Brenton Butler.
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Just before the Curtis case went to the jury, Butler's mother testified for the defense.
During the trial, the defense tried to shift blame for the murder to his co-defendant and to a botched investigation by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
Stephens, 64, of Toccoa, Ga., was shot in the face outside a Ramada Inn in Jacksonville on May 7, 2000, while she was vacationing with her husband.
The jury deliberated for less than an hour before returning the guilty verdict.
Because of prior felony arrests, Curtis is subject to a life sentence for the murder.
The second suspect in the case, Jermel Ricardo Williams, is still being held, but prosecutors said his trial could be pre-empted by a possible plea deal.
Previous Stories:
- September 28, 2002: Another Prosecution In Stephen's Murder, More Claims Against Police
- March 13, 2001: Police: New Suspects Bragged About Murder