Man convicted in Auburn triple killing

OPELIKA, Ala. - A jury convicted a man of capital murder Tuesday in the shooting deaths of two former Auburn University football players and a third man, rejecting claims that he fired in self-defense under Alabama's "Stand Your Ground" law.

Jurors returned the verdict against 24-year-old Desmonte Leonard after nearly five hours of deliberations.

The capital charge carries a possible death sentence, but life without parole also is possible. Jurors will recommend a sentence to Circuit Judge Jacob A. Walker III, who must make the final decision.

Leonard didn't have any visible reaction to the verdict, but one woman left the courtroom crying.

Relatives of the victims held hands and nodded in agreement as the verdict was read.

The Montgomery man was charged with fatally shooting ex-Auburn players Ed Christian and Ladarious Phillips at party in Auburn in June 2012. DeMario Pitts of Opelika also was slain, and three other people were wounded.

Jurors also convicted Leonard of assault and attempted murder, but he was acquitted of one count of attempted murder.

Jurors rejected Leonard's claim that he opened fire after coming under attack at the party, held at an apartment complex a few miles from campus. They asked for a legal definition of self-defense and Alabama's "Stand Your Ground" law before convicting Leonard.

Prosecutors said Leonard deliberately killed the men after a fight broke out between his friends and other partygoers.

Leonard's attorneys did not dispute that he fired the fatal shots, but they said he pulled out a gun to protect himself and was particularly susceptible to threats because of the psychological effects of being shot in the abdomen in 2008.

Defense attorney Susan James told jurors in closing arguments Monday that Leonard was on the ground being kicked when he pulled a gun and randomly fired in order to escape.

Lee County District Attorney Robert T. Treese said witnesses testified that Leonard was not involved in the fight and was never in danger.

Prosecutors said Leonard fired a .40-caliber handgun at least nine times. The men who died were each shot two times.

Leonard surrendered to authorities following a manhunt that included Montgomery police searching a house where they mistakenly believed he was hiding. He has been held without bond ever since.