Saturday, Jul. 26, 2008

Jury says man guilty of murder in '06 shooting on Kibby Road

It took jurors two days to decide fate of defendant; others in the case await trial.

By SCOTT JASON
sjason@mercedsun-star.com

Raymond Anthony Brown was found guilty Friday in the murder of a 38-year-old Atwater man who was shot and bled to death in 2006.

Brown, 24, sat slumped in his chair as the court clerk announced he was guilty of murder and robbery. Less than 10 feet away, the victim's sister pulled tissues from a box next to her and dabbed her eyes, as she had done through most of the trial.

After two days of deliberations, the seven-woman, five-man jury announced their verdict in Merced County Superior Court. Brown will be sentenced at the end of August and faces life in prison.

"I thought the (jury) did an excellent job in a difficult case," prosecutor Tom Cooke said.

While Brown didn't fire the bullet that killed Jose Miranda, jurors agreed with Cooke that he was at the scene, put a gun to the victim's head and told Marcus Whitaker to "get him."

Whitaker is awaiting trial for murder.

The shooting happened at 2 a.m. April 15, 2006, in the 1800 block of Kibby Road.

Miranda and a couple friends were driving home from a Merced bar when they were confronted by two robbers demanding their cash. Miranda was shot twice and bled to death.

During an interrogation six days later, Brown first told detectives that he was at home in bed with his wife. Later on, the admitted to being part of the robbery and there during the shooting.

Brown pointed a gun at Miranda, who grabbed it. Brown then hid behind a car, and investigators believe Miranda was then shot by Whitaker.

Brown's attorney, Linden Lindahl, maintained that his client offered a false confession at the request of brother-in-law Fernando Barrera, who was trying to avoid charges because he was also at the scene.

Oakland Police Department officers arrested Brown in the East Bay city after investigators heard he might be staying there with family.

After the verdict, Cooke told Miranda's sister she could write a letter expressing the grief she's felt since her brother was killed.

Reporter Scott Jason can be reached at (209) 385-2453 or sjason@mercedsun-star.com.