Local News: McLaurin Trial
The death of Kennedy McLaurin — Leonard Joyner, one of four men accused in connection with the alleged kidnapping and murder of a 16-year-old Goldsboro High School student, goes to trial.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Case closed
Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Arnold Jones this morning sentenced the three men whose testimony helped the state convict Leonard Eugene Joyner for his role in the Sept. 9, 2012, first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping of 16-year-old Kennedy McLaurin...Published: Apr 2, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Kim Best statement
"I am relieved with the guilty verdict and speechless at the same time. I thank God, first and foremost, and I thank Det. Dwayne Bevell ... and Assistant District Attorney Matt Delbridge for his strong and diligent pursuit for justice...Published: Apr 1, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
Life in prison
Kennedy McLaurin's mother, Kim Best, was not moved to tears when she heard the verdict inside a Wayne County courtroom late Monday morning. She didn't crack a smile or hug the relative sitting closest to her. Senior Resident Superior...Published: Apr 1, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
Monday, March 31, 2014
Joyner found guilty
Guilty of first-degree murder. After nearly five hours of deliberations that began Thursday afternoon and resumed, after a three-day break, this morning, a jury returned a guilty verdict for Leonard Joyner, 23, in connection with the 2012 murder of...Published: Mar 31, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
Guilty
Leonard Eugene Joyner has been found guilty of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping for his role in the Sept. 9, 2012, death of 16-year-old Kennedy McLaurin Jr. For complete details, see today's News-Argus....Published: Mar 31, 2014 11:13 AM Full Story
Live from the courtroom -- Joyner on trial
Follow all the action unfolding in Courtroom No. 1, as the state attempts to convince a Wayne County jury that Leonard Eugene Joyner is guilty of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in connection with the 2012 death of 16-year-old Kennedy...Published: Mar 31, 2014 9:30 AM Full Story
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Kennedy McLaurin Jr. timeline
* Sept. 9, 2012 -- Just after 1 p.m., Tonya Prior, a Bain Street resident, calls 911 to report a group of men fighting in a car outside. She tells the operator she heard a gun shot. * Sept. 10,...Published: Mar 30, 2014 1:50 AM Full Story
The jury will decide
Barring any unforeseen developments, the 12 Wayne County residents charged with determining the innocence or guilt of one of four men accused of murdering 16-year-old Kennedy McLaurin Jr. Sept. 9, 2012, will deliver their verdict Monday. Leonard Eugene Joyner,...Published: Mar 30, 2014 1:50 AM Full Story
Friday, March 28, 2014
Lawyers deliver final arguments to Joyner trial jury
Assistant District Attorney Matthew Delbridge removed his glasses and took a deep breath. It had only been a few moments since defense attorney Charles Gurley concluded his closing argument with an emotional reading of a quote about liberty and...Published: Mar 28, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
Jury gets case
After more than three hours of deliberation, the jury in the first-degree murder trial of Leonard Eugene Joyner, 23, still had not reached a verdict Thursday evening when Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Arnold O. Jones decided to send...Published: Mar 28, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
Thursday, March 27, 2014
No verdict yet
They have been deliberating since 2:30 p.m., but the 12 men and women charged with determining the guilt or innocence of one of four men charged with murder in connection with the Sept. 9, 2012, death of 16-year-old Kennedy McLaurin...Published: Mar 27, 2014 5:47 PM Full Story
The witnesses
Defense witness No. 1: Goldsboro Police Department Det. Dwayne Bevell -- Bevell told the court, after being handed a DVD by defense attorney Charles Gurley, that the disk was dated "9/21/2012" and had the name "Kevin Smith" written on it....Published: Mar 27, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
Tensions high in Joyner case
Tensions spilled over outside the courthouse during the lunch recess, when supporters of the Leonard Eugene Joyner incited a verbal altercation with members of Kennedy McLaurin Jr.'s family. Deputies poured into the parking lot to defuse the situation. No punches...Published: Mar 27, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
Defendant says he was scared, acted to protect himself
Kennedy McLaurin Jr. died by his own hand. And it was the fear of nobody believing that fact that prompted Leonard Eugene Joyner to flee the scene of a deadly shooting -- with the 16-year-old's body still in the...Published: Mar 27, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
Jury to begin deliberations soon
The 12 Wayne County residents charged with determining the guilt or innocence of one of the four men arrested in connection with the alleged Sept. 9, 2012, murder and kidnapping of Kennedy McLaurin Jr. will begin their deliberations at 2:30...Published: Mar 27, 2014 1:40 PM Full Story
Live from the courtroom -- Joyner on trial
Follow all the action unfolding in Courtroom No. 1, as the state attempts to convince a Wayne County jury that Leonard Eugene Joyner is guilty of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in connection with the 2012 death of 16-year-old Kennedy...Published: Mar 27, 2014 9:35 AM Full Story
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Defense rests
The defense has rested it case in Leonard Eugene Joyner's first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping trial. For more information, see our "Live from the courtroom" coverage on www.NewsArgus.com and Thursday's News-Argus....Published: Mar 26, 2014 3:23 PM Full Story
The witnesses
State Witness No. 17: Jerome Butts -- Butts told the court that he is 20 years old, but was only 19 the day Kennedy McLaurin Jr. died. He testified that back then, he was, in Assistant District Attorney Matthew Delbridge's...Published: Mar 26, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
The state rests
A photograph of a smiling Kennedy McLaurin Jr. was the last thing a Wayne County jury saw Tuesday before the state rested its case against one of the men charged with murder in connection with the 16-year-old's Sept. 9,...Published: Mar 26, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
Joyner takes the stand
Leonard Eugene Joyner has just taken the stand in his first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping trial. For all the action unfolding in the courtroom, follow our 'Live from the courtroom' feature on www.NewsArgus.com or follow us on Twitter @newsarguscops...Published: Mar 26, 2014 12:00 PM Full Story
Live from the courtroom -- Joyner on trial
Follow all the action unfolding in Courtroom No. 1, as the state attempts to convince a Wayne County jury that Leonard Eugene Joyner is guilty of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in connection with the 2012 death of 16-year-old Kennedy...Published: Mar 26, 2014 9:31 AM Full Story
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
State rests
The state has rested its case against Leonard Eugene Joyner, one of four men charged in the alleged Sept. 9, 2012 kidnapping and murder of 16-year-old Goldsboro High School student Kennedy McLaurin Jr. For complete coverage of what transpired in...Published: Mar 25, 2014 4:01 PM Full Story
The witnesses
State witness No. 13: Goldsboro Police Department Det. Dwayne Bevell (continued from Friday) -- Bevell, by answering the questions posed by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Delbridge, reminded the jury that when his testimony was halted Friday afternoon, he was talking...Published: Mar 25, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
'He was still alive'
The witnesses agreed that Kennedy McLaurin Jr. was still alive after a gunshot rang out on Bain Street Sept. 9, 2012 -- that the 16-year-old continued to struggle with both the driver and a passenger of the car he was...Published: Mar 25, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
Live from the courtroom -- Joyner on trial
Follow all the action unfolding in Courtroom No. 1, as the state attempts to convince a Wayne County jury that Leonard Eugene Joyner is guilty of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in connection with the 2012 death of 16-year-old Kennedy...Published: Mar 25, 2014 9:26 AM Full Story
Monday, March 24, 2014
Prosecution to continue in Joyner murder trial
The lead investigator in the 2012 death of Kennedy McLaurin is expected to retake the stand this morning in Wayne County Superior Court as the trial continues for one of the men accused in the 16-year-old's alleged murder. Goldsboro police...Published: Mar 24, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
Live from the courtroom - Joyner on trial
Follow all the action unfolding in Courtroom No. 1, as the state attempts to convince a Wayne County jury that Leonard Eugene Joyner is guilty of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in connection with the 2012 death of 16-year-old Kennedy...Published: Mar 24, 2014 9:55 AM Full Story
Saturday, March 22, 2014
McLaurin investigation detailed in court
Time and time again, Leonard Eugene Joyner swore he had nothing to do with it. But Goldsboro Police Department Det. Dwayne Bevell wasn't convinced. So he kept asking him to "tell the truth" -- shouting expletives and using words...Published: Mar 22, 2014 11:27 PM Full Story
Joyner on trial -- Friday's testimony
State witness No. 12: Goldsboro Police Department crime scene investigator Cpl. Trevor Albaugh -- Albaugh told the court that he first became involved in the McLaurin case Sept. 20, 2012, when he was called on to assist at a crime...Published: Mar 22, 2014 11:27 PM Full Story
Friday, March 21, 2014
Testimony continues in Joyner murder trial
Testimony in the murder case against Leonard Eugene Joyner Thursday turned to the day when investigators got the answer to the question, "Where is Kennedy McLaurin?" North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Agent Justin Godwin described the discovery of...Published: Mar 21, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
Live from the courtroom -- Joyner on trial
Follow all the action unfolding in Courtroom No. 1, as the state attempts to convince a Wayne County jury that Leonard Eugene Joyner is guilty of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in connection with the 2012 death of 16-year-old Kennedy...Published: Mar 21, 2014 9:32 AM Full Story
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Witness tells court: It was 'just drug deal'
It was supposed to be a drug deal -- a 16-year-old exchanging a bag of marijuana for a stack of money. But when Kennedy McLaurin Jr. stepped out of Antonio King's car and walked away to make the transaction,...Published: Mar 20, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
Attorneys make opening statements in Leonard Joyner murder trial
Assistant District Attorney Matthew Delbridge took just 3 minutes and 17 seconds in his opening statement Wednesday to sum up for a Wayne County Superior Court jury the last moments of Kennedy McLaurin Jr.'s life. "He knew he was...Published: Mar 20, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
Live from the courtroom - Joyner on trial
Follow all the action unfolding in Courtroom No. 1, as the state attempts to convince a Wayne County jury that Leonard Eugene Joyner is guilty of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in connection with the 2012 death of 16-year-old Kennedy...Published: Mar 20, 2014 9:32 AM Full Story
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Jury seated
He won't use fingerprints. He won't produce DNA evidence or a murder weapon. Instead, Assistant District Attorney Matthew Delbridge will try the case against Leonard Eugene Joyner "old school style." Opening arguments do not begin until today, but the...Published: Mar 19, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
Live from the courtroom - Joyner on trial
Follow all the action unfolding in Courtroom No. 1, as the state attempts to convince a Wayne County jury that Leonard Eugene Joyner is guilty of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping in connection with the 2012 death of 16-year-old Kennedy...Published: Mar 19, 2014 9:51 AM Full Story
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Jury set
Leonard Joyner does not yet know his fate, but he does know which 12 men and women will determine it. The jury for his first-degree murder trial has been set and two alternates are currently being selected. For complete details...Published: Mar 18, 2014 3:59 PM Full Story
Trial moves forward
Jury selection began today in Wayne County Superior Court for the first-degree murder trial of Leonard Eugene Joyner, 23. Joyner is charged in the 2012 murder of Kennedy Fitzgerald McLaurin Jr., 16 -- a crime to which three other...Published: Mar 18, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
Trial begins
Leonard Joyner, one of four men charged with murder in connection with the death of 16-year-old Kennedy McLaurin, has entered Courtroom No. 1 and is seated beside his attorney. Superior Court Judge Arnold Jones has also taken his seat and...Published: Mar 18, 2014 10:06 AM Full Story
Monday, March 17, 2014
Kennedy McLaurin murder case update
Jury selection in the trial of Leonard Joyner -- one of the men charged in the 2012 murder and kidnapping of Kennedy McLaurin Jr. -- is not scheduled to begin until Tuesday, but sources with knowledge of the proceedings...Published: Mar 17, 2014 1:46 PM Full Story
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Murder trial set to start Monday
A man accused of being part of the plot to kill Kennedy McLaurin in September 2012 will go on trial for first-degree murder Monday in Wayne County Superior Court. A last-minute effort by the defense lawyer for Leonard Joyner...Published: Mar 16, 2014 1:50 AM Full Story