Jury convicts two teens in E. Ocean View beating death

NORFOLK

A jury convicted two teenage girls of murder, lynching, robbery, malicious wounding and weapon charges in the mob beating death of a man in East Ocean View in July 2007.

The verdict came Friday after a four-day trial in Norfolk Circuit Court, during which defense lawyers argued that Nichelle Carter and Ieshia Rountree had been present at the time of the beating but had not participated in the crimes.

Jurors acquitted the girls of three additional weapons charges.

Prosecutor James Entas argued to jurors that both Carter and Rountree, admitted members of the Bounty Hunter Bloods gang, took part in the brutal beating of 19-year-old James Robertson, his cousin, Timothy Minter, and their friend, Desmond Ashe. Robertson died of his injuries; Minter and Ashe escaped.

Eight others also were charged. Entas told jurors that while the girls may not have struck the fatal blows, their participation made them equally guilty.

“No question there’s a spectrum of responsibility on this team,” Entas said. “But even the cheerleaders who were there cheering on are responsible.”

The girls, both 17, are scheduled to be sentenced in February.

At least one spectator cried out after the verdict, said commonwealth’s attorney’s spokeswoman Amanda Howie. That woman was held in contempt of court and ordered to jail.