Lorne George

Case record: Lorne George

Background

Lorne George was a South Carolina youth who was charged in connection with the 1997 killings of David Powers, Nicole Watts, and Watts’ unborn fetus. He was tried as an adult.

Lorne George argued passionately in his own defense.

The offence

Lorne George was charged with three counts of murder, including Watts’ unborn fetus.

Prosecutors argued that Powers and Watts were killed during a botched robbery attempt. Their theory was that George and the other defendants planned to force Powers to withdraw money from an ATM, but Powers refused. Prosecutors said George shot Powers four times.

Later, prosecutors said George returned to kill Watts. The theory was supported in testimony of Robert Howard and Jamar Chance, who stated that George apparently returned to kill Watts.

Investigation

On November 14, 1997, Richard Vargo returned to his Charleston County home and found two dead bodies. David Powers, described as a 50-year-old family friend, was sprawled on the steps leading to the small building.

Inside, Vargo found the body of his fiancee, Nicole Watts, underneath a table in the living room. Watts was six months pregnant.

For nearly a week, investigators were unable to make headway in the case. Then, a local resident came forward to report that he had been shot at by four youths who claimed to be trick-or-treating.

A day after the incident, Michael Rea, who chased the attackers away with a baseball bat, found four 9mm shell casings and a clip for a 9mm Glock pistol at the scene. Tests revealed that the shell casings had been fired by the same gun that killed Powers and Watts.

Rea was shown photos of several youths and identified four of them as his previous attackers: Lorne George, Christopher Howard, Robert Howard, and Jamar Chance.

Authorities retrieved the murder weapon, which, according to Christopher Howard’s police statement, was buried in George’s backyard.

Arrest

Lorne George was charged with three counts of murder and was tried as an adult.

Trial

Lorne George’s trial included testimony and argument from both sides. Defense attorney Russell Brown maintained that George was not part of the group that went to the Powers house.

George testified on his behalf and insisted that he was not even aware that anyone lived in the Powers house until emergency vehicles arrived after the shootings.

Brown argued that discrepancies in the testimony of Robert Howard and Jamar Chance—where they pointed to George as the triggerman—showed that they were trying to reduce their own punishment by implicating George. Brown argued that the narratives told by the two youths were, in many respects, remarkably similar.

Jurors deliberated seven hours before convicting George.

Lorne George was found guilty on all three counts of murder.

The death penalty was not considered because of George’s young age at the time of the killings.

Sentencing

Judge R. Markely Dennis, Jr. sentenced 18-year-old George to two life sentences to be served consecutively.

Appeals

George planned to appeal.

Other details

Christopher Howard was also charged as an adult and was awaiting trial. Robert Howard and Jamar Chance were charged as juveniles and pleaded guilty to two counts of murder.