After 17 hours, Devega jury still deliberating

Defense attorneys say police rushed to judgment in charging Armond Devega with robbery and murder in a series of Raleigh crimes in 2008, but prosecutors say he was motivated by greed and a disregard for human life.

Posted 10:58 p.m. May 15, 2014 — Updated 11:26 p.m. May 15, 2014

RALEIGH, N.C. — After nearly 17 hours of deliberations this week, a Wake County jury on Friday will enter its fourth full day of deciding the fate of a Raleigh man who could face the death penalty for the shooting deaths of two people more than six years ago.

The seven men and five women are considering 11 verdicts against 32-year-old Armond Devega, who is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder and eight counts of armed robbery in a series of crimes in 2008.

Anthony Dwayne Scarborough, 32, was fatally shot Feb. 13, 2008, during a home invasion in which prosecutors say Devega sought retribution because he thought Scarborough set him up to be robbed.

They say Devega also shot and killed Stephanie Powell Anderson, 39, during an April 10, 2008, robbery at a gas station in north Raleigh.

Devega has denied any involvement in the crimes – defense attorneys say there's no fingerprints or DNA – but Wake County prosecutors say he's guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Ballistics evidence, they say, links him to the crimes, and witnesses, a family member and his ex-girlfriend all identified him as the culprit.

The jury started deliberating Tuesday morning and has since asked to examine and re-examine evidence, including frame-by-frame reviews of surveillance video from several of the robberies.

On Thursday, they asked to see security footage from a June 6, 2008, robbery at a Bojangles' on Durant Road and also video from a sporting goods store on Sept. 10, 2008, where Devega says he was during a robbery at Mexico Lindo check-cashing service on Wake Forest Road.

In that case, Modesta Fernandez-Lucas survived after being shot shot several times.

Jurors – allowed only to see the videos in open court – sat intently, leaning in from the jury box, looking deliberate and repeatedly asking for a replay of portions of video.

Jurors also asked for and were granted to view timesheets from Devega's job as an electrician's assistant. Prosecutors contend he didn't show up for work on the days of the crimes.

If Devega is found guilty of either first-degree murder charge, jurors will also hear testimony in a sentencing phase of the lengthy trial – now in its 12th week – before deciding his punishment.

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