A man prosecutors said killed Black Panthers co-founder Huey Newton to impress gang members and win a drug-dealing franchise was convicted of murder and could get 32 years to life in prison.
A jury Wednesday convicted Tyrone Robinson, 27, in the 1989 slaying. Newton, 47, was shot three times in the head near an Oakland crack house. Sentencing was set for Nov. 25.Robinson admitted shooting Newton but said Newton fired first.
"It was obvious the jury didn't believe the defense claim that the shooting was in self-defense," said prosecutor Kenneth Burr.
Burr argued that Robinson shot Newton in hopes of bolstering his standing in the Black Guerilla Family prison gang and gaining a crack-selling franchise.
After his arrest, Robinson told investigators that Newton had robbed him two months earlier of 14 cocaine rocks and $160 in cash. Tests showed Newton had a large amount of cocaine and alcohol in his body when he died.