FORMER TV star James Timothy Norman is well-known to actuality TV lovers.
Norman had previously starred within the actuality present "Welcome to Sweetie Pie's", which aired in 2011 - so why was he imprisoned?
Who's James Timothy Norman?
James Timothy Norman starred in "Welcome to Sweetie Pie's", a actuality TV present that ran for 9 seasons earlier than it was cancelled in 2018.
The present was run by Norman's mom, Robbie, and confirmed a behind-the-scenes have a look at her family-owned restaurant, Sweetie Pie's in St. Louis, Missouri.
Nevertheless, in 2016 Robbie sued her son, claiming trademark infringement after he opened three eating places utilizing the identical identify within the St. Louis space and California.
The unique Sweetie Pie's, owned by Robbie, was opened in 1996 and he or she trademarked the identify in 2012 after the fact present aired.
Norman responded to the lawsuit on the time, telling The St. Louis American: “It’s sophisticated, to say the least, as we've joint curiosity in varied sides of the Sweetie Pie’s model.
"I've to remain true to our model and our enterprise and I really hope this disagreement will be settled between my mom and me.”
“I've at all times, and can at all times, need what's finest for my mom, our household, and our folks,” Norman continued. “That is the chance of doing enterprise with family members, and I'm longing for swift decision.”
Shortly after the lawsuit was filed Norman's nephew, Andre Montgomery, was discovered lifeless in a house close to Fairfield Park on March 14, 2016.
Montgomery was shot within the head and pronounced lifeless on the scene.
Police have been initially baffled by the scene and requested anybody with data to come back forth.
In August 2020, Norman was charged with the homicide of his nephew.
Why was Tim Norman charged with Andre's homicide?
Norman was charged with conspiracy to make use of interstate commerce amenities within the fee of a murder-for-hire, and was arrested per week later in Jackson, Mississippi.
He was sentenced to life in jail for plotting his nephew's homicide.
Investigators discovered that Norman had taken out a $450k life insurance coverage coverage on his nephew in 2014, making himself the only real beneficiary.
Investigators discovered that just one week after Montgomery had been killed, Norman contacted the insurance coverage firm to say the life insurance coverage.
Authorities claimed that Norman had contacted Terica Ellies, an unique dancer from Memphis, Tennessee to assist him perform a murder-for-hire plot on Montgomery in March 2016.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors mentioned that Montgomery had paid Ellis $10k to lure Montgomery to the St. Louis dwelling on March 14.
That they had used burner telephones to remain in contact and allow Ellis to trace Norman's whereabouts.
The prosecution mentioned Norman had then paid $5k to Travell Anthony Hill to shoot Montgomery.
Each Ellis and Hill pleaded responsible to their roles within the capturing in July 2022.
Norman continued to plead not responsible to the fees and denied paying Hill, claiming he did not know Hill was the shooter.
He took to Instagram to proclaim his innocence.
Norman mentioned: “Thanks for all of the prayers. I’m nonetheless in disbelief. The feds know 100% I didn't do these insurance coverage insurance policies.
“However the jury didn’t hear that. And never one particular person acquired on the stand and mentioned that I advised them to harm my nephew. They destroyed my identify and picture so that you guys wouldn’t seek for the reality.”
Police questioned Norman's pal, Derryl Howard, who had gone right into a cooperation settlement with the federal government in 2020.
Howard advised the jury that at roughly 8pm, Norman known as him and requested him to retrieve $5k from his room on the Chase Park Plaza.
He mentioned he was instructed to provide the cash to Hill, and authorities indicated the request was made after Montgomery was shot.
At 8.03pm, information confirmed that Ellis known as Norman, and he or she recalled to the jury that she advised Norman: "What the f*** occurred? I heard gunshots.
"He mentioned, 'Don't fret about it, get on the freeway and go dwelling, do not inform no person.'"
Norman denied having mentioned that and claimed he did not know Montgomery had been killed at the moment.
Prosecutors then requested him if he did not know when his nephew was killed, then why did he name Howard at 8.06pm, solely three minutes after Montgomery was shot.
Norman continued to disclaim his involvement, saying he aimed to be a “father determine” to Montgomery and had assisted him financially.
Throughout closing arguments, Assistant US Legal professional Angie Danis advised the jury that texts, name information, and placement knowledge backed up Ellis' and Hill's testimony.
She added that Norman offered "a picture of being a mentor and a father determine to all these folks, however it’s fiction.”
Was Tim Norman discovered responsible?
A federal jury convicted Norman on September 16, 2022, within the murder-for-hire scheme of his nephew, Andre Montgomery.
The jury deliberated for 17 hours over the course of three days and located Norman responsible of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
After the decision, Norman's lawyer, Michael Leonard mentioned they have been "extraordinarily stunned and disenchanted by the result."
Fleming mentioned that whereas he and Norman "perceive the work of the jury," they'll attraction their determination.
He added: “Tim is an amazingly optimistic and robust man. So he’s been in custody for fairly a very long time already. He needed to sit via the deliberations by himself, and he’s a really sturdy particular person.
"And so I believe he’s nonetheless regardless of the decision has plenty of optimism that we’re going to beat this and finally prevail."
US Legal professional Sayler Fleming commented on the decision, telling CNN: “Mr. Norman’s crimes have been motivated by greed and whereas the proof was voluminous and overwhelming, Mr. Norman’s plan was comparatively simple.
"He fraudulently obtained life insurance coverage within the quantity of $450k on his nephew, Andre Montgomery, with out Mr. Montgomery’s data, he then used a paramour to find Mr. Montgomery and a co-defendant to fatally shoot and kill him.
"Inside days of his nephew’s homicide, Mr. Norman began the method of getting the insurance coverage firm to pay the declare."
Norman was certainly sentenced to life in jail on December 15, 2022.
Choose John Ross presided over the case, and mentioned the homicide was an "execution".
Ross mentioned: "It was a cold-blooded, extremely premeditated, deliberate execution of your nephew."
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