Binghamton Man is Guilty of Murder

Bob Joseph/WNBF News [file][/caption]The second man charged in connection with the murder of a Binghamton man during a robbery in 2013 is guilty on robbery and murder charges.  42 year old Nigel Smith was convicted yesterday after a jury deliberated ten hours in the case surrounding the death of Bretnie “Sha” Owens at his Stone Street home.

Smith was cleared of a weapon charge.

The first defendant, Calvin Bell, was acquitted.

Smith will be sentenced in November and could serve 25 years to life in prison.

During the trial the credibility of the prosecution’s witnesses was called into question since many had been ‘customers’ of Owens, who was a known drug dealer.

Assistant District Attorney Kevin Dooley, in closing statements, maintained that witnesses had to come from the Owens circle of acquaintance and, quote, “you don’t find swans in a gutter.”

Prosecutors say they feel only partial justice was served since Bell was acquitted.