MEMPHIS, TN – Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons announced that a jury late Friday convicted a Memphis man for killing an acquaintance in December 2004. 

The jury found Mario Bateman, 25, guilty as indicted on one count of first degree murder.  Bateman was sentenced to life in prison. 

The victim, Cornelius Muhammad, 26, was shot on December 3, 2004 as he sat inside a parked car on Pope Street.  Several bullets were fired into the car through the sunroof.  The victim identified Bateman, also known as Mario Woods, as his killer before dying at The Med.  Bateman and Muhammad knew each other and had been in at least one previous altercation.

First degree murder is a charge covered by the District Attorney’s “No Deals” policy on violent crimes.

Assistant District Attorneys Betsy Carnesale and Greg Gilbert prosecuted this case.