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Pair Found “Guilty on all Counts” in 2008 Slaying

June 29, 2009

FLINT --  Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said he was very pleased that two separate juries in a two-defendant murder trial returned guilty verdicts on all counts stemming from the 2008 slaying of a Flint woman in her N. Stevenson St. home in the City of Flint.

Marcello Lewis, 27, of Flint, and Tanika Love, 23, also of Flint, were each convicted of felony murder and other related charges in the August 7, 2008 slaying of Latonia Larry who was shot three times in the head.  Testimony during trial indicated that after shooting Larry, the pair left her for dead then took her car and used her cell phone and used her debit card to withdraw money and purchase gasoline.  Larry’s brother later found her lying face down in the basement and bleeding from her mouth.  

“The family of Latonia Larry has suffered greatly and I am pleased that we were able to prosecute those responsible for her death and hold them accountable in a court of law,” said Prosecutor Leyton after Tanika Love’s jury came back with a verdict finding her guilty of felony murder, armed robbery, carjacking, and illegal use of a financial transaction device.  Love will be sentenced on July 23, 2009 and faces mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Marcello Lewis’ jury rendered a verdict on Friday and found him guilty of felony murder, armed robbery, car jacking, felon in possession of a firearm, felony firearm, and illegal use of a financial transaction device.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 23, 2009.

Prosecutor Leyton commended City of Flint police officers and detectives for their hard work and thorough investigation of the case and noted that comments made by defense counsel against the police during the trial were unwarranted and improper and went far beyond advocacy on behalf of the criminal defendant.

“The City of Flint police did an outstanding job investigating this case and I commend them for their service to our community and in their pursuit of justice,” said Prosecutor Leyton. 

“But, I am troubled by the comments made by defense counsel during the course of the trial.  It appears that strong client advocacy, which we fully expect and respect in a criminal trial and which every defendant deserves, was replaced by near slanderous commentary against the police,” noted Prosecutor Leyton. 

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