NORFOLK
Charles J. Liegel Jr. died because he surprised a gang member who was burglarizing his home, according to a witness who testified Thursday in Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.
Fire investigators found Liegel's body inside his burned townhouse on the 2600 block of Pretty Lake Ave. on May 1, 2007. A blaze had destroyed several townhomes on the East Ocean View street.
Liegel, 28, was assigned to the U.S. Joint Forces Command as part of a unit that provided security to top officers here and abroad.
More than a year passed before police arrested a 17-year-old and charged him with murder, arson and using a gun in Liegel's death.
On Thursday, Judge William P. Williams ruled that Tyrell Winslow, now 18, may be tried as an adult.
Williams explained that prosecutor Philip G. Evans II and defense lawyer Cynthia Garris had reached an agreement to identify the man who testified against Winslow only as "Witness No. 2." He was in his mid-20s and wore a dark-hooded sweatshirt.
The witness said he had known Winslow only a short time when he heard that Winslow was responsible for the killing and fire.
"Someone told me you set a fire and you killed somebody," the witness said he questioned Winslow. "Did you do it? He said, 'Yeah.' "
The witness said Winslow told him he had seen a computer through a window and decided to steal it.
"Once he got in the house a guy popped up and startled him," the witness said. "Tyrell pulled a gun and fired more than once."
Winslow told the witness he had burned the house to get rid of his fingerprints, the witness said.
Garris questioned why Winslow would have confided in the witness, when they had known each other for such a short time.
The witness started to describe a chain of acquaintances, but Garris cut through: "Are you members of a gang?" she asked.
Yes, the witness said, the Bounty Hunter Bloods.
Fire investigator David Kaufman II testified that he found evidence of accelerants in the ruins of the bedroom where Liegel's body was found. Kaufman also found parts from a lighter and a shell casing.
Michelle Washington, (757) 446-2287, michelle.washington@
pilotonline.com
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Another Serviceman Murdered in Norfolk by a Gang Member..
These horrific gang-related murders of active duty servicmen in Norfolk are becoming commonplace. The fact that the murder victim was a trained member of a military security detachment, goes to show that NO ONE is safe from these predators. I can only hope that the Judicial system doesnt baby this cold-blooded killer. He needs to go away for life, in exchange for the life he stole from this young sailor.
Norfolk...
...a wonderful family destination. Such a loving and caring place to live... Ahh, how nice...
pretty lake...
...yet another area Norfolk City Council vowed to clean up and then stuck on the back burner...HEY...you guys get those silly survailance cameras yet?
This has got to STOP
These gangs and unnecessary killings and violence has got to stop. This occured in broad daylight not that it matters when it happened but someone lost their life over a computer ???? Then months later in the same area a military man lost his life from a beating from the same gang. NO ONE should purchase a home in that area until that community has been cleaned up. Children live all through there and they will only be lured to those gangs if this does not cease.
no comment
no comment, i'll just "dance around" the problem.
pc's got me.
.