Birmingham man convicted in murder-for-hire of Sylacauga attorney
A Birmingham man, one of six charged in the murder-for-hire death of an attorney, was convicted Wednesday in Talladega County.
Ocie Lee Lynch, 33, was charged with capital murder in January 2012 in the slaying of attorney Robert Blake Lazenby, 54.
Lynch's trial began Monday before Talladega County Circuit Judge John Rochester. District Attorney Steve Giddens is prosecuting the case. Jeff Salver and Bill Barnett are representing Lynch.
Court records show that Lynch was convicted on six counts of capital murder - four because the murder was committed for financial gain and two because it occurred during the course of a burglary. Rochester dismissed two other counts of murder during a robbery.
After delivering the guilty verdict, the jury returned Thursday for the penalty phase of the trial.
Under Alabama law, capital cases are divided into two phases. In the first portion, jurors make a determination of guilt, and, when a defendant is found guilty, the trial moves to a penalty phase, in which jurors recommend a sentence of either death or life without parole.
According to the Daily Home, Sylacauga police found Lazenby dead, shot three times and stabbed five times, in his Stonehill Road home in Sylacauga on July 27, 2011. Police began looking for Lazenby after his burning car was found by Tarrant police about 7 p.m. that night.
Lynch was arrested at a home in Birmingham by the U.S. Marshal's Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force. He has remained in jail without bond while awaiting trial.
Calvin McCall Haynes testified that he acted as a go-between for Earnest James Files Jr., who would pay cash for someone to kill Lazenby, and Lynch, the man chosen to carry out the slaying.
In February 2012, Hendrix and Files were charged in connection with Lazenby's death.
Court records show that Haynes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and was sentenced to life in prison.
While testifying Tuesday, Haynes said Files promised to pay $45,000 for Lazenby's death but never paid out. He said Lynch, armed with a .38 caliber gun, went to Lazenby's house with several other men and returned in Lazenby's SUV, which they set on fire.
Haynes testified that Lynch dumped the weapons used and burned his bloody clothes, according to The Daily Home.
Lynch's attorneys questioned Haynes' credibility and noted discrepancies in his three statements made to investigators. Haynes said he initially lied to protect himself.
Defense attorneys did not call any witnesses, and Lynch did not testify.
http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/in...ted_in_mu.html
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