CLARKSBURG, W. Va. — After a trail which lasted over a week and hours of jury deliberations spanning over the course of two days, a man accused in a 2010 Harrison County murder was found guilty.
Ennis Charles Payne II, 39, of Clarksburg, was convicted Thursday of first degree murder and conspiracy to commit burglary.
The prosecution successfully argued its case that Payne, along with codefendant Darnell Bouie, 37, of Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, planned to rob Jayar Poindexter, 30, of McKeesport, Pennsylvania, of drugs and money at his Clarksburg residence in the Quarry Apartments during January of 2010. Then, when it was discovered Poindexter was in the residence at the time of the attempted burglary, Payne shot Poindexter in the chest, killing him.
The jury recommended mercy on the murder charge, meaning Payne would be eligible for parole.
In March, a jury convicted Bouie for his involvement in the crime and he was sentenced to life in prison with mercy.
Harrison Chief Judge James A. Matish will schedule Payne’s sentencing at a later date.