BOSTON, Feb. 26, 2014—Aaron Wornum’s killer will serve the rest of his life behind bars for the 25-year-old’s murder in Dorchester three years ago, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

A Suffolk Superior Court jury late yesterday convicted ANTHONY ROBERTSON (D.O.B. 5/19/91) of first-degree murder, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with Wornum’s fatal shooting near the corner of Sumner and East Cottage streets on the night of June 26, 2011.

Shortly after the verdict was returned, Judge Patrick Brady imposed the mandatory sentence for the lead offense, life in prison without the possibility of parole.

During about seven days of testimony, Assistant District Attorney David Fredette introduced evidence and testimony proving that Wornum and Robertson were speaking on the phone shortly before the fatal shots were fired, and that Wornum was directing Robertson to his location. When Robertson arrived, the evidence showed, he pulled a gun.

“Ant, it doesn’t have to be like this,” Wornum said at that time, according to testimony.

Robertson shot Wornum repeatedly and stole a gold chain from him, the evidence showed.

“We could not have reached this result without the involvement of civilian witnesses who testified truthfully about what happened that day,” Conley said. “The testimony of civilian witnesses is absolutely crucial in solving and prosecuting violent crime.”

About three weeks later, amid a very active investigation by Boston Police homicide detectives and Suffolk homicide prosecutors, Robertson was apprehended on Arbutus Street and charged with Wornum’s murder. He has remained in custody since that time.

Michael Glennon was the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. Robertson was represented by attorney James Greenberg.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.