Lester Ray Belmar Jr., 29, said that he had fired on DarrelEugune Spencer in a 7-Eleven parking lot the morning of May 21, 2011, becausehe feared Spencer would injure others, including his fellow security guards.
In a rare, if not first-time, event in Virginia BeachCircuit Court, a witness in the trial testified via Skype.
"This is a first for all of us," said Belmar'sattorney, Martin Bullock, who arranged for the testimony through the onlinevideo chat program.
The witness, who worked as a security guard with Belmar themorning of the shooting, moved to
Belmar is convicted of shooting Spencer in the back of thehead while trying to break up fights that had flowed over to a 7-Eleven parkinglot from the club, Hangar 09, where he provided security. A vehicle fired shotsfrom the roadway,
But Commonwealth’s Attorney Harvey Bryant argued no one wasin immediate enough danger to justify killing Spencer.
Judge A. Bonwill Shockley agreed.
“The victim’s actions hadn’t gone far enough,” she said,before finding Belmar guilty. “ ... I just keep thinking, ‘Why didn’t thedefendant wait? Why didn’t the defendant wait?’
Bullock argued his client shot Spencer at that momentbecause he was trying to keep anyone from getting hurt, including his fellowsecurity guards, who had dropped to the ground.
Two other people suffered injuries in the shooting, one fromthe same bullet that killed Spencer and another from the shotgun Spencer fired,according to witnesses and Bryant.
Shockley also found Belmar guilty of malicious wounding andtwo counts of using a firearm in a felony. He faces a minimum of 8 years and amaximum of 68 years at his sentencing, scheduled for Jan. 7.
Macie Pridgen, a spokeswoman for the Commonwealth'sAttorney's Office, said she hasn't heard of any other trials here where awitness testified by Skype.
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