Grays guilty in '07 killingof Cawthorn

Jurors reject man's claim of self-defensein shooting at store

Jurors convicted a Huntsville man of murder Friday, rejecting his claim of self-defense in the February 2007 shooting at a convenience store on Pulaski Pike and Winchester Road.

Stacey Grays, 20, was found guilty of murder by the seven-man, five-woman jury.

Grays testified he shot and killed Ronnie Lee Cawthorn, 22, of Huntsville after Cawthorn made a threatening remark and reached into his pants for a gun. The shooting happened on Feb. 9, 2007.

Prosecutors Randy Dill and Jay Town said Grays lied repeatedly during the investigation of the case. They argued that Grays' story of the encounter with Cawthorn did not match eyewitness accounts and no gun was found on Cawthorn.

They said a crucial piece of evidence was a security tape from a car wash near the scene. Prosecutors said the tape showed the entire encounter between Grays and Cawthorn - including Grays firing six shots - lasted 21 seconds, not the three to five minutes that Grays had told investigators. Towns argued the timing showed Grays went to the store to kill Cawthorn and that it was not a chance encounter.

Grays' attorney Russell Crumbley argued that when Cawthorn's girlfriend and another friend aided him after he was shot, they loaded him in an SUV to go to the hospital. At an intersection, Grays' friend reportedly fled the vehicle. Crumbley said he did that to hide the gun.

But the jury rejected that version. If they determined Grays had acted in self-defense, he could not have been found guilty of murder.

After deliberating for nearly three hours Thursday, the jury returned Friday morning and reported a verdict after only 25 more minutes of deliberations.

Dill said prosecutors and the victim's family were pleased with the outcome.

"I think we had a compelling case," Dill said. "There was ample evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt he committed murder."

Grays will be sentenced Circuit Judge James P. Smith Dec. 4. He faces a minimum sentence of 20 years and could receive up to life in prison.

It marked the second murder conviction in 24 hours for the Madison County District Attorney's office. Thursday a jury convicted 17-year-old Michael Steger of murder for the June 2007 slaying of 16-year-old Jamie Collier of Huntsville. Steger was 14 at the time of the shooting.

Crumbley said he expects Grays will file an appeal.