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By CHRIS CARY Times-News GRAHAM — Billy Scott was con victed of first-degree murder in Alamance Superior Court Tuesday af ternoon. The jury in Scott’s trial deliberated for a little more than three hours over two days before returning with their verdict. Scott, 51, was convicted of kill ing his common-law wife Nancy Funderburk, 48, by shooting her in the chest with a .12-gauge shotgun at their Burlington home last July . Scott's defense was based on his claim that Funderburk was trying to commit suicide and that he was trying to stop her when the gun accidentally went off. Funderburk was shot as she sat on a bar stool in their home at 2022 Lee Drive. After she was shot, her body was left on the bar stool for several days be fore Scott put the body in a crawlspace beneath the house. Scott testified that he left her in the house after the shooting because he wanted to be close to her The prosecution had contended that Funderburk’s murder was premedi tated and followed years of abuse by Scott. Jurors had deliberated for about 25 minutes on Monday and resumed their deliberations at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. At 10:13 a.m., the jury asked Superior Court Judge J.B. Allen to explain again the criteria for first-degree murder and second-degree murder. After Allen gave a detailed explanation of the two charges, the six men and six women returned to the jury room. About an hour into the afternoon session, the jury notified the judge that they had reached their verdict. There was no apparent reaction from Scott as the verdict was read. He made no comment Defense attorney Robert Collins im mediately gave notice of appeal. Allen assigned Collins to handle the appeal, but Collins said the N.C. Public De fender’s Office could better represent Scott in the appeal. “Then I will appoint you to write to the Public Defender’s Office,” Allen said. “If they will take the case, I will let you off.” A life sentence is mandatory for a first-degree murder conviction in North Carolina. Scott will become eli gible for parole in 20 years. Scott
Newspaper Details
Burlington Times News
Burlington, North Carolina, US
Wed, Apr 06, 1994
Page 29
Full Page
Clipped by
Henrie D.
