COURT AFFIRMS MURDER VERDICT.Byline: KAREN MAESHIRO Staff Writer LANCASTER -- An appeals court has upheld the murder conviction of a reputed reputed adj. referring to what is accepted by general public belief, whether or not correct. gang member who was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for fatally fa·tal·ly adv. 1. So as to cause death; mortally: fatally injured. 2. So as to result in disaster or ruin. 3. According to the decree of fate; inevitably. Adv. 1. shooting his girlfriend's stepfather step·fa·ther n. The husband of one's mother and not one's natural father. stepfather Noun a man who has married one's mother after the death or divorce of one's father Noun 1. . The 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected Darren Norman's contention that the trial judge erred by letting the jury hear testimony about his alleged gang affiliation, propensity for guns and monikers. ``It is not reasonably probable that a result more favorable to appellant A person who, dissatisfied with the judgment rendered in a lawsuit decided in a lower court or the findings from a proceeding before an Administrative Agency, asks a superior court to review the decision. would have been reached absent the evidence that he was an Eight-Trey Gang member known as `Vicious,' who carried guns and wore an Eight-Trey tattoo tattoo, the marking of the skin with punctures into which pigment is rubbed. The word originates from the Tahitian tattau [to mark]. The term is sometimes extended to scarification, which consists of skin incisions into which irritants may be rubbed to produce , and who was arrested months after this case in Eight-Trey territory carrying a gun and wearing an Eight-Trey hat,'' the ruling said. Norman, a resident of Lancaster, was convicted of first-degree murder for the slaying of 27-year-old Travon Coleman in October 2003, when Norman was 18. Coleman was shot to death in his Avenue H-14 front yard the morning after he and his nephew beat up Norman and took away Norman's gun, following an argument about Norman sneaking into his girlfriend's bedroom through the window and being disrespectful dis·re·spect·ful adj. Having or exhibiting a lack of respect; rude and discourteous. dis  re·spect . The defense had argued that Norman had acted in self-defense (Law) in protection of self, - it being permitted in law to a party on whom a grave wrong is attempted to resist the wrong, even at the peril of the life of the assailiant. - Wharton. See also: Self-defense . The defense said Norman believed Coleman was armed when he shot him the next morning, after returning to his girlfriend's home. ``He cited his Eight-Trey membership in urging Travon to return the gun. Travon invoked his own affiliation with the Four-Trey gang, declined to return the gun, and said he would give it to the police,'' the ruling said. ``Appellant responded by stating he would kill Travon and (his nephew).'' The next morning, after Norman returned to the house and was talking outside to his girlfriend and another man, he opened fire when Coleman came out and walked toward him, the ruling said. In arguing that Norman shot Coleman in self-defense, Norman's attorney told the jury: ``Travon claimed Four-Trey membership. Now, that is important....that ... piece of evidence (will)... show you that (Norman) was afraid of Travon, not only because he had been beaten up the night before, but because he claimed gang membership, and ... he (now had) the gun.'' karen.maeshiro@dailynews.com (661) 267-5744 |
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