Steele convicted of second-degree murder; victim's sister says, 'Justice is finally served'

◼ Steele convicted of second-degree murder; victim's sister says, 'Justice is finally served'

Or - Gallegos assigned himself another slam-dunk.

On Tuesday, after deliberating for a little more than two days, the jury of seven women and five men convicted Steele of second-degree murder, finding that he acted with malice when he shot George but that the killing wasn't a premeditated act -- a distinction that would have elevated the crime to murder in the first degree.

As courtroom clerk Kristy Silva read the jury's verdict, Steele appeared to crumple upon hearing the word “guilty,” placing his head in his hands and slumping over in his chair. He wept as Silva read the rest of the verdict and asked each juror if the verdict, as read, reflected their vote.

After the verdict was read, members of George's family left the courtroom with tears in their eyes as Steele's family looked on in stunned silence. Steele was then led from the courtroom in handcuffs.

In addition to convicting Steele of second-degree murder, the jury found a number of special allegations to be true -- that Steele personally used a firearm in the murder and that he intentionally discharged it, causing great bodily injury and death to George

-- and convicted him of making criminal threats.

So he (Steele) shoots his friend in the head for saying that he knew other people his (Steele's) age who had a Mercedes. And that's second degree. OK.

Steele faces a sentence of between 73 years and eight months in prison to life in prison.

After the hearing, George's sister, Stella Cornely-George, of Eureka, said she was pleased with the verdict and credited Humboldt County District Attorney Paul Gallegos with doing a “great job” trying the case.

”Justice is finally done,” she said. “Justice is finally served.”