BY TANYA ALBERT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Anthony Walker stared straight ahead Thursday as a Hamilton County jury found him guilty of murder for shooting a popular Northside bar owner known as "Coach."
He sang "I Believe I Can Fly" as he was led from the common pleas courtroom in handcuffs.
After slightly more than three full days of deliberations, five men and seven women said Mr. Walker, 39, of South Fairmount, shot and killed bar owner James Hebert Sr., 53, of Colerain Township. The September shooting capped an argument at the bar, Coaches.
The jury also found Mr. Walker guilty of felonious assault for attacking Mr. Hebert's son in the bar that night. He was found not guilty of a second felonious assault charge stemming from a drive-by shooting involving another man earlier that evening. Another felonious assault charge was thrown out before the case went to the jury.
Mr. Walker's attorney, Clyde Bennett II, said he plans an appeal. Based on the length of the deliberations, he thinks at least one juror had reasonable doubt but was "worn down over a matter of time."
"The evidence was overwhelming, but we raised enough doubt," Mr. Bennett said.
Prosecutor David Prem did not have a comment after the verdict, nor did one of Mr. Hebert's relatives who was in the courtroom Thursday. Mr. Walker is to be sentenced Aug. 5. He faces a maximum of 29 years to life in prison.
