A second murder conviction in 2 months
It was the second time in two months that Malik Collins stood up to face a jury and heard this verdict: "Guilty."
It was the second time in two months that Malik Collins stood up to face a jury and heard this verdict: "Guilty."
A Common Pleas jury yesterday convicted Collins, 20, of first-degree murder, attempted murder and related offenses in a June 2006 shooting in Nicetown in which one man was killed and two others were injured.
One of the injured men had been holding his 7-month-old son when he was shot in the back. The baby was not injured.
Last month, a separate jury convicted Collins of first-degree murder in an unrelated September 2005 slaying in Brewerytown.
Jurors in the second case were to return today before Judge Shelley Robins New for a hearing to decide whether to sentence Collins to life in prison or death.
As the jury forewoman yesterday announced the "guilty" verdicts on all charges, Collins, of Thompson Street near 30th in Brewerytown, appeared solemn.
A female relative of his left the courtroom, banging the door behind her. After the jury was dismissed, another woman cried.
Collins was one of three gunmen who ran up to Wingohocking and Chadwick streets and opened fire without warning about 5:30 p.m. June 15, 2006. In total, 49 shots were fired, Assistant District Attorney Jacqueline Juliano Coelho told the jury in her closing argument on Tuesday.
John Waller, 30, was hit multiple times and died of his wounds. A 28-year-old man was hit in the back as he ran, holding his baby boy. A 25-year-old man was hit in the thigh and ankle.
Waller's mother, Sarah Waller, said after the verdict that she was "satisfied . . . I'm glad my son can rest in peace." She added that she did not know why her son was slain, and believed it might have been a case of mistaken identity.
Defense attorney Daniel Rendine contended "it was a bad verdict. I don't know how a jury could convict [Collins] when the only eyewitness said he didn't know who shot him."
Rendine was referring to the 28-year-old injured man, who was the only witness during the trial to identify Collins as one of the gunmen. That man initially told police he did not know who shot him, but days later identified Collins in a photo array.
Collins was arrested Dec. 16, 2006, after he and an accomplice robbed two men of their cell phones. It was then discovered that he was wanted in the murders.
Officer Kirk Dodd said yesterday that when he arrested Collins, the thug told him that day: "I should have blasted you when I had the chance. I can't believe I went out like a sucker." *
