MEMPHIS, TN – Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons announced Thursday that a jury found a Memphis teen guilty as indicted for the murder of a well-known neighborhood grocery store owner in 2005.
The jury found Markese Brooks, 19, guilty of first degree murder in the perpetration of a felony and attempted especially aggravated robbery. Brooks was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 51 years. Brooks faces up to 12 additional years when he is sentenced for the attempted robbery. The sentencing is set for August 17 in Criminal Court Division 8.
Albert Lee Covington, 53, known to those in the neighborhood as “Uncle Sonny,” was shot and killed during an attempted robbery on January 17, 2005 at the Little Star Grocery located at 547 Vance. The victim struggled with Brooks during the incident.
Two co-defendants, Clarence Abernathy and Frank Taylor, both 19, await trial for the same charges. All three defendants were 17 years old at the time of the incident. At the request of the D.A.’s Office, they were transferred to Criminal Court to be prosecuted as adults.
It is the policy of the District Attorney’s Office to request that juveniles who are 16 or 17 years old be transferred to Criminal Court if they are charged with committing a violent crime.
The charge of first degree murder is covered under the D.A.’s “No Deals” policy on violent crimes. Exceptions are made to the policy for legal and ethical reasons.
Assistant District Attorneys David Pritchard and Dean DeCandia prosecuted this case. Both prosecutors are assigned to the D.A.’s Gang and Narcotics Prosecution Unit. |