Jury chooses life in prison for Armond Devega
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Armond Devega avoided the death penalty Friday for a 2008 murder and robbery spree that left a young mother dead.
After deliberating most of the morning, a Raleigh jury recommended life in prison for the 32 year old.
On Monday, the same jury found Devega guilty of killing convenience store clerk Stephanie Anderson April 2008 because she couldn't open a safe.
Devega was also found guilty of attempted first-degree murder in another shooting and guilty of six counts of armed robbery in holdups between January and October of 2008.
However, he was found not guilty of shooting 32-year-old Anthony Dwayne Scarborough to death in February, 2008.
Prosecutors acknowledge that's it seems to be getting harder and harder to get a death penalty verdict in Wake County. However, while the victim's family is disappointed, they say they still got justice.
Anderson's sister, Lachonda Powell, said as she left the courthouse that she planned to visit her sister's grave.
"I'm just going to tell her I hope she's at peace now," said Powell. "You know, we've done everything we possibly could to vindicate her life. But, you know, that's all that we can do, and her kids will be okay."
Devega's parents spoke briefly with Powell and her mother offering their sympathies.
However, they left the courthouse without talking to reporters.
It has been almost seven years since a Wake County jury has handed down a death sentence.
