Three trials scheduled for Lee murder

Published 10:47 am Friday, April 29, 2011

COURTLAND—Trial dates have been set for three out of five suspects in the Oct. 7 murder of a Southampton County man.

Of the three, only suspect Rasheed Brown has asked for a jury trial for the shooting death of Darrin Lee, while suspects Darrin Robinson and Shahon Cumbo will have their trials before a judge, according to information filed at the Southampton County Circuit Court. Brown is the only one who has hired an attorney, while the others have court-appointed representation.

Brown, 21, of Franklin, was pinned as the alleged trigger man by Bruce Boone, 18, of Suffolk, during a Feb. 8 preliminary hearing.

Brown also will be the last of the three to be tried with his trial set for Tuesday, Sept. 20, through Thursday, Sept. 22, at the courthouse in Courtland. Robinson, 20, of Suffolk and Cumbo, 21, of Franklin are scheduled for trial on Tuesday, Aug. 30, also in Courtland.

Trial dates for Boone will be set on Monday, July 18, and suspect Ernest Jones, 22, of Portsmouth on Monday, May 16.

The Sheriff’s Office charged six men with first-degree murder in Lee’s death. The 28-year-old was allegedly shot outside his home in Southampton Meadows Mobile Home Park after being abducted from Man Market on South Street in Franklin.

Murder charges against the sixth man, Dayquan Eley, 18, of Suffolk were dismissed.