Rapper C-Murder was yesterday convicted of second-degree murder after being found guilty of that previously reported nightclub shooting in which a 16 year old fan was killed. The judge hearing the case told the jury they could find C-Murder, real name Corey Miller, innocent of all charges, or guilty of either second degree murder or manslaughter. They opted for the more serious charge - no doubt influenced by Assistant District Attorney Roger Jordan's remarks that: "Miller's a murderer. He's a killer. He took away something you can't give back -- Steve's life." The charge carries an automatic life sentence.
The family of C Murder continue to claim Miller is innocent of all charges and have promised they will appeal. His father, Percy Miller Sr, confirmed the appeal by saying, simply: "My son didn't do that." There were nine witnesses who claimed Miller was innocent, compared to two that said they saw him shoot the boy. But the reliability of the defence's witnesses was questioned when their descriptions of the events leading to the fatal shooting varied.
16 year old Steve Thomas was shot at the Platinum Club in Harvey in early 2002. The prosecution said Thomas found himself in an unprovoked scuffle with C Murder's entourage, during which the teenager was beaten before Miller finally took out a gun and shot him.