Three Get Life in 2013 Murder; Fourth Defendant to Face Judge Later

BOSTON, May 30, 2017— Three men convicted of murdering 25-year-old Romeo McCubbin were sentenced to life in prison today, while the fourth man found guilty in the 2013 homicide faces the same sentence at a later date, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

A Suffolk Superior Court jury on Thursday convicted OMAR BONNER (D.O.B. 8/2/87) of Hyde Park, OMAR DENTON (D.O.B. 5/9/84) of Milton, ANDREW ROBERTSON (D.O.B. 06/09/1976) of Hyde Park, and a fourth man, JAVAINE WATSON (D.O.B. 10/11/90) of Dorchester, of first-degree murder in connection with McCubbin’s 2013 shooting death.  The jury also convicted Robertson of unlawful possession of a firearm.  The case was previously tried in 2016, at which time a separate jury convicted Bonner of unlawful possession of a firearm and resisting arrest and Denton of unlawful possession of a firearm but was unable to come to a unanimous decision on the remaining charges, resulting in a mistrial on those charges.  Bonner, Denton, and Robertson faced sentencing today on convictions stemming from both the 2016 trial and this month’s retrial; Watson will be sentenced at a later date.

Judge Linda Giles sentenced Bonner, Denton, and Robertson to life in prison without the possibility of parole – the mandatory term for first-degree murder – and concurrent terms of four to five years in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm.  She also sentenced Bonner to a concurrent term of two years in the house of correction for resisting arrest.

During the course of a two-week trial, Assistant District Attorney Ian Polumbaum introduced evidence and testimony to prove that McCubbin was sitting inside a vehicle on Havelock Street at approximately 1:45 a.m. on Dec. 14, 2013, when Robertson exited a vehicle driven by Watson and shot McCubbin repeatedly.  Robertson then reentered Watson’s vehicle and the two drove away.  The evidence showed that McCubbin crawled from his vehicle and was approached on foot by Bonner and Denton.  Denton shot McCubbin repeatedly and Bonner kicked him as he lay mortally wounded.  The two men then fled in a vehicle driven by Denton.

Before the sentences were imposed, Polumbaum read an impact statement that was written by McCubbin’s family.

“Our grief is like the weather, some days it’s calm, quiet, maybe even a little sunny.  Other days, it’s a devastating storm that makes us feel angry, exhausted, raw, and empty.  It’s a bitter experience to grieve the death of our dearly beloved baby of the family,” McCubbin’s loved ones wrote. “His death will forever be difficult for us.  We live with an emptiness that no one can fill.”

Assistant District Attorney Teresa Anderson of the DA’s Appellate Unit served as second-seat at trial.  Michael Glennon was the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate.  Bonner was represented by James Greenberg, Denton by Rosemary Scapicchio, Robertson by Kevin Mitchell, and Watson by Martin Leppo.

–30–

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