By By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
Dec. 6, 2000
DECATUR After deliberations lasting less than half an hour Tuesday, a Newton County Circuit Court jury found Stacey Posey guilty of the May murder of his former wife, Ginger Nester.
A few minutes later, Posey was sentenced to life in prison by Circuit Judge Vernon Cotton.
A state statute requires people sentenced to life serve 15 years or until age 65 whichever is greater before they are eligible for parole, Turner said, which means Posey will remain in prison until he is at least 65.
Nester died on May 17 after being shot in the chest with a .44-caliber handgun in the parking lot of Peavey Electronics on Highway 503 in Decatur.
Posey was arrested by Jackson authorities about five hours later in the Baptist Hospital parking garage in Jackson. His arrest ended an intense manhunt through Newton, Scott and Rankin counties.
He was indicted by a Newton County grand jury in early August.
Several law enforcement officers and expert witnesses also took the stand for the prosecution.
A fingerprint expert who matched a fingerprint taken from the gun to Posey testified, as did a ballistics expert who matched the gun to a projectile recovered at the murder scene. Forensic pathologist Dr. Steven Hayne testified that the cause of death was a gunshot wound.
Newton County Sheriff Jackie Knight said he was called because he fingerprinted Posey after his arrest.
Defense attorney Robert Brooks called Posey to the stand to testify on his own behalf. He was the sole witness for the defense.
Sheila Blackmon is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at sblackmon@meridianstar.com.