Franklin man’s murder trial continues today

Published 10:53 am Thursday, March 8, 2012

FRANKLIN—Testimony in the first-degree murder trial of a Franklin man accused in the shooting death of Darrin Lee continues today.

Three witnesses testified Wednesday in Southampton County Circuit Court for the jury trial of Rasheed Brown, 22.

Brown and five others were arrested in connection with the October 2010 kidnapping shooting of Lee at the Southampton Meadow Mobile Home Park in a failed robbery. Brown was pinned as the triggerman during a preliminary hearing by co-defendant Bruce Boone, 19, of Suffolk.

In February it took a jury 2½ hours to convict Shahon Cumbo in Lee’s death. Cumbo faces 36 years in prison.

Ernest Jones, 23, of Portsmouth and Boone pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

Others facing trials are Quadrick Ashburn, 21, of Courtland and Darrine Robinson, 22, of Suffolk.