A lying Georgia father who claimed his young daughter’s mother stabbed herself 14 times in front of her other children has been convicted of her murder and will receive life in prison without the possibility of parole plus an additional 100 years.
Gregory Deonte Norwood, 31, had attempted to claim that teacher Crystal Powell, 31, committed suicide during an argument after he showed up at her home in Monroe, about 45 miles east of Atlanta, in April. 2022.
The couple’s son did not see the brutality, but the mother’s three other children and two of her cousins ”witnessed the murder and saw Crystal’s body in front of the house,” the Walton County District Attorney’s Office said. .
The oldest of the five children, 11 years old, called 911 to report the brutal murder after Norwood fled with her young son.
The killer was found wearing shoes covered in blood, which DNA confirmed as a match for the victim.
Norwood “was interviewed and made statements alleging that Crystal stabbed herself,” prosecutors said.
Gregory Deonte Norwood, 31, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 100 years. Walton County Sheriff’s Office
He repeated that throughout the trial, taking the stand and trying to “blame Crystal for the death, claiming she stabbed herself 14 times.”
However, the trial heard from the five young witnesses who witnessed the murder, as well as the medical examiner, who testified that the wounds could never have been self-inflicted.
Jurors also heard Norwood had a history of domestic abuse against the mother of his young son.
Slain teacher Crystal Powell, 31, had four children, including a baby with Norwood. Walton County Sheriff’s Office
“The jury clearly did not buy [Norwood’s] interested version of the events that did not coincide with any of the evidence presented,” the prosecutors added.
It took the jury just one hour to find Norwood guilty of two counts of felony murder, malice murder, aggravated assault and family violence assault. He was also found guilty of five counts of cruelty to children in the first degree.
He was sentenced Friday to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 100 years.
Norwood and Powell shared a baby together. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Powell, a Newton County Board of Education teacher, was remembered as a loving mother, daughter and sister, according to her obituary.
“Crystal enjoyed Braves baseball and enjoyed baking, shopping and loved spending time with her children and family,” the obituary said. “She was loved very much by everyone and will be deeply missed.”
District Attorney Randy McGinley called it a fair outcome for “such a heartbreaking trial.”
“While this verdict cannot bring Crystal back, I hope it provides some level of closure and a sense of justice for her family and friends,” he said.
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn