Claude Morrison, Jr., 15 at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty in April 2010 to a reduced charge of attempted second-degree murder in exchange for testimony against Kevin Francis.
At Francis’ trial, however, Morrison invoked the 5th Amendment and refused to testify, perhaps concerned about another pending murder charge against him.
Francis, now 19, was found guilty in a bench trial in September and sentenced to life plus 90 years.
Ryan Williams, now 17, testified that Francis fired the shot that killed Linda Bonin on April 1, 2009 after the trio broke into a house looking for money and drugs.
A man who owed them $50 was not home and they went into a rage, according to testimony.
Morrison will be sentenced on Oct. 12. His bargain caps his penalty at no more than 20 years. How his refusal to testify influences the deal remains to be seen.
Williams took an offer reducing his charges to attempted armed robbery, attempted first-degree murder and forcible rape and got a 12-year sentence, no parole.
He pleaded to attempting to kill Ryan Snow, a man who was at the house when the three broke in and was the lead witness in Francis’ trial.
Testifying at Francis’ trial, Williams was uncooperative to the point that he provoked Judge Ed Rubin to sentence him to six months in jail for contempt of court, to be served at the conclusion of his 12-year sentence.
Williams, Francis and Ovie Wilson, 15 at the time, are also charged with the March 1, 2009 killing and robbery of a Crowley man.
Wilson, who also invoked the 5th Amendment when called to testify in the Francis trial, is scheduled for January trial.
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