Two men have been convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy in the shooting death of a Pennsylvania disc jockey more than four years ago.
Jurors in Northampton County deliberated for two days before convicting Patrick Hughes, 36, of Easton, and Omar Robinson, 37, of Palmer Township, on Friday in the death of Easton disc jockey Ervin Holton, 43, who was gunned down on a porch in Easton in November 2012.
Both face mandatory life terms without possibility of parole when they are sentenced in February.
Friends said Holton worked as a DJ at local events and clubs, including the restaurant owned by former boxing champ Larry Holmes.
Prosecutors said Hughes masterminded the slaying because Holton had begun dating his ex-girlfriend, and Robinson was one of two gunmen. They acknowledged their evidence was circumstantial, but argued that cellphone records, gunpowder residue on Robinson's minivan and nearby video surveillance tied the two men to the killing.
Defense attorneys raised the possibility of other suspects and said their clients had been falsely accused by investigators leaping to conclusions without sufficient proof and ignoring other leads.
Hughes' love letters to the former girlfriend were read in court. Prosecutors said the letters made it clear that he was holding out hope the two would reunite one day.
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Hughes' lead attorney, Brian Monahan, called the trial fair and cited the nine hours of jury deliberations but vowed an appeal because of the life-without-parole sentence.
Robinson's lawyer declined comment.
