Man convicted in slayings of couple found buried in Georgia

<p>Jurors deliberated for three hours Monday before convicting a 24-year-old man for killing a retired couple who were buried alive in rural Charlton County, Ga.</p><p>The jury will return May 30 to determine if Michael James Jackson should receive the death penalty or life in prison for the murders of Reggie and Carol Sumner, both 61. Jackson was convicted on charges of robbery, kidnapping and first-degree murder.</p><p>The Sumners' bodies were found buried in a shallow grave in Georgia near the Florida state line in July 2005.</p><p>Jackson's girlfriend, 25-year-old Tiffany Ann Cole, also is charged with the crimes. She met the Sumners in Ladson, S.C., where her stepfather was their neighbor. The Sumners had recently moved to Jacksonville.</p><p>Alan Lyndell Wade and Bruce Kent Nixon, both 19, also are charged with killing the Sumners. Cole and Wade are awaiting trial.</p><p>Nixon pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, robbery and kidnapping after leading police to the bodies. By agreeing to testify against the rest, he avoided the death penalty and faces 52 years to life in prison.</p><p>Nixon testified that Jackson planned the whole thing. Jackson said in court that he was guilty of helping scheme the robbery, but said it was Nixon and Wade who killed the Sumners.</p><p>When Jackson saw the couple being buried alive and heard the wife moaning inside the pre-dug grave, Jackson said he did not try to stop it because he was afraid he would be next.</p><p>Jackson later used the Sumners' bank card and PIN number to withdraw money from their bank account, prosecutors said.</p><p>Telephone message left by The Associated Press with the state attorney's office and Jackson's attorney, Richard Kuritz, were not immediately returned.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x1cd9d64)</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2007/5/100436