a public defender

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Yesterday, a Hartford jury convicted Lazale Ashby of the murder of Elizabeth Garcia.

The jury found Ashby guilty of murder, felony murder, capital felony, sexual assault, burglary and three counts of kidnapping in Garcia’s death. Authorities charged that he beat, stabbed and strangled her sometime between 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 and 7 a.m. Dec. 2, 2002.

The State is seeking the death penalty and jurors will return in September to commence the penalty phase of the trial.

Drugs played a prominent role in Ashby’s life, authorities say.Sources close to the investigation said Ashby grew up in Hartford’s Asylum Hill neighborhood, mostly on Huntington Street. His mother was a drug addict, and his father was not around to raise him. He was cared for by his grandmother, his only close relative until she died after his trial started.

Part of what sank him was this note [pdf] he passed to another inmate, which was introduced into evidence.

Just sad all around.

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