An
eastern Pennsylvania woman who fatally stabbed her fiance on their
wedding day – and then apparently could not comprehend that he had died –
was convicted of first-degree murder on Thursday.
Jurors
found Na Cola Franklin, 32, guilty after deliberating about three hours
in Lehigh County Court. She could get life in prison when she is
sentenced July 16. Her attorney said an appeal is likely.
Prosecutors
say Franklin and 36-year-old Billy Brewster got into the deadly
argument on Aug. 11 around 2 a.m. in their Whitehall Township apartment.
They were scheduled to be married at 10 a.m. in neighboring Allentown.
At
her arraignment that night, Franklin appeared distraught and confused
to learn Brewster was dead, telling the judge, “You got to check again!”
Defense
attorney John Waldron told jurors during the trial this week that
Brewster had come home drunk that night after an impromptu bachelor
party. Brewster attacked Franklin and then tried to leave with the
couple’s 9-month-old son, Waldron said.
Waldron
argued Franklin killed the groom-to-be after grabbing a knife to
protect her child. He had pushed for a voluntary manslaughter
conviction, which carries a lighter sentence.
But
prosecutors, who said the child was not in danger, sought a
first-degree murder conviction. First Assistant District Attorney Steven
Luksa said Thursday that he hopes the verdict will bring some comfort
to Brewster’s family, according to the Express-Times of Easton.
On
the day of the planned wedding, neighbor Steve Engel said the pastor
who was supposed to marry the couple came looking for them at the
apartment building. Distraught people in suits and dresses – presumably
ceremony guests – then began showing up throughout the day, Engel said.
Read more: Huffington Post
