ROWAN COUNTY -- A jury has found a Rowan County man guilty of first degree murder and three counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon in the 2012 murder of a store owner.
After less than 15 minutes of deliberation, a jury found Maurice Robinson guilty in the 2012 robbery that left convenience store owner Hecham Abualeinan dead.
Robinson is one of three men charged.
"There really was no behind the scenes discussion everybody pretty much set down and we were on the same page," said Brian Doyle, a juror.
Robinson will spend life in prison without parole for the 2012 murder of Z and H Mart store owner Abualeinan and multiple counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon.
"The state did an excellent job presenting the evidence and it was pretty simple to make the decision. We were all unanimous, no arguing," said Doyle.
For Abualeinan's family, the ruling is a means of justice more than three years later. Abualeinan's daughter Zina got up and spoke in court after the jury's decision was read. She thanked the judge and noted how hard the process had been for her family.
Throughout the trial, the jury heard from Christopher Watson and Kevin Canzator, who testified against Robinson. Both pleaded guilty in Abualeinan's murder and are behind bars. During closing arguments, the defense argued Robinson didn't have the capacity to plan multiple robberies.
"The experts are set on the fact that once you're mentally disabled mentally retarded, you don't get well," said Darrin Jordan, Robinson's Defense Attorney.
They also said that the man behind the murder weapon, Christopher Watson, was to blame. In court, Robinson said he had nothing to say to the family, but then changed his mind.
"His comment was, I'm sorry for what happened, for what Christopher Watson did," said Jordan.
Some of Abualeinan's family turned away with tears in their eyes when he turned around and addressed them.
"His apology seemed unsincere," said Doyle.
District Attorney Brandy Cook said evidence showed Robinson manipulated Watson and Canzator. Using phone records and police interviews, Cook said Robinson knew Christopher Watson, the man who pulled the trigger, owned him money for crack. Cook said Robinson controlled Watson. According to testimony, Robinson was in charge of dividing the money from the robbery and taking care of the gun. Cook said Robinson called Watson and Canzator 70 times after the shooting from December 10th to December 11th in 2012, according to phone records. Cook said Robinson was planning and trying to get the story striaght.
At the time of the shooting, Abualeinan's wife and two kids were just 10 years old and 14 years old. They walked out to find their father dead. They did not want to talk about the verdict. Cook noted in court that the case "changed their lives. They lost their provider and protector."
Robinson's attorneys are appealing the ruling.