Ex-Yonkers football star guilty in slaying

WHITE PLAINS — A former Roosevelt High School football star was convicted of murder today in the fatal shooting of a rival with whom he had feuded for several years.
Ayman Marji's head sagged and his relatives burst into tears as the jury forwewoman announced the guilty verdict in Westchester County Court. - College Football -
Jurors relied on a young woman who testified she saw Marji shoot Omar Torres on Yonkers Avenue on Dec. 18 and the verdict came shortly after the jury heard a playback of the woman's 911 call moments after the shooting.
"Justice was served. We knew this was the right verdict," said Luis Delapaz, the victim's stepfather, who hugged Torres' mother and her sister-in-law just after the verdict was announced. "We lost Omar and nobody can bring him back, but at least we can go on now that justice was done." - College Football -
Marji, 23, was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He faces at least 15 years to life in prison and a maximum of 25 years to life prison when acting state Supreme Court Justice Richard Molea sentences him on Oct. 18.
Prosecutors Robert Neary and Lana Hochheiser argued a revenge motive, that Torres, 26, was killed in retaliation for a drive-by shooting the night before in which a cousin of Marji's was grazed by a bullet. - College Football -
Marji's lawyers had criticized the police investigation and argued that the case was one of mistaken identity. They were hopeful of an acquittal as the second day of deliberations began, especially after jurors heard a readback of a key prosecution witness, Raymond Hattar, a gas station attendant and an Arab-American like Marji. Hattar testified that he saw Marji race past him moments after the shooting but that he had some doubt Marji was the one he saw because of the distance between the two. - College Football -
"It's a total miscarriage of justice," defense lawyer Michael Santangelo said as he left the courthouse. "If a jury can convict based on someone testifying that they have some doubt they saw something, then anyone can be convicted. It's a miscarriage of justice."
Marji, a junior at Manhattan College who coached football at Somers High School, was arrested a month after the shooting. He was free on $150,000 bail but placed on involuntary leave by college officials. - College Football -
Marji and his friends had an ongoing feud with the victim and Torres' twin brother, Javier.
Javier Torres testified about a series of threats made by Marji and his friends, testimony that Santangelo argued the judge should not have allowed. Torres remained in the hallway outside the courtroom for the rest of the weeklong trial and the verdict. He was elated when told about the conviction moments later. - College Football -
"I think (the jury) did a good job. Everybody knew (Marji) did it," Torres said. "He thought he would get away with it because they had a lot of money. I guess there is a God."
Marji was handcuffed and let away as Molea ordered him held at the county jail to await sentencing. His relatives burst into tears again as they realized he would not be allowed home before he was sent to prison. - College Football -

JONATHAN BANDLER