The Bobster
Senior News Editor since 2004
3
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/03022005_...der_cooper.html
Conviction in Singer's Murder
PHILADELPHIA-March 2, 2005 --A 21-year-old Philadelphia man has been convicted of the September 2003 murder of an aspiring singer whose burning corpse was found in the city's Fairmount Park.
After deliberating for more than a week, jurors found Benjamin Cooper guilty of killing 25-year-old Claire Clay, his musical collaborator, friend and former lover.
Cooper was also convicted of robbery and abuse of corpse.
Cooper faces a maximum prison sentence of 31 to 62 years when he is sentenced April 11th.
The aspiring rapper and admitted drug dealer told police that he killed Clay but then testified at his trial that his father killed the former parochial school te
acher from suburban Broomall.
Assistant District Attorney Jaso
n Bologna presented jurors with two written confessions and a video confession in which Cooper admitted killing Clay, dousing her body with gasoline and setting it on fire.
Members of the Clay family were in court for the verdict but declined to comment afterward.
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/news/03022005_...der_cooper.html
Conviction in Singer's Murder
PHILADELPHIA-March 2, 2005 --A 21-year-old Philadelphia man has been convicted of the September 2003 murder of an aspiring singer whose burning corpse was found in the city's Fairmount Park.
After deliberating for more than a week, jurors found Benjamin Cooper guilty of killing 25-year-old Claire Clay, his musical collaborator, friend and former lover.
Cooper was also convicted of robbery and abuse of corpse.
Cooper faces a maximum prison sentence of 31 to 62 years when he is sentenced April 11th.
The aspiring rapper and admitted drug dealer told police that he killed Clay but then testified at his trial that his father killed the former parochial school te
acher from suburban Broomall.
Assistant District Attorney Jaso
n Bologna presented jurors with two written confessions and a video confession in which Cooper admitted killing Clay, dousing her body with gasoline and setting it on fire.
Members of the Clay family were in court for the verdict but declined to comment afterward.