Jury convicts man of murder

Advertiser Staff

A 54-year-old Kahuku man yesterday was found guilty of murder in the shooting death of his friend, three related firearm counts and commercial promotion of marijuana.

Colonel Robert Taylor was found guilty by a Circuit Court jury that deliberated for about a day before rejecting his defense that another person shot his friend, Jesus Camacho, in the chest July 8 last year.

City Deputy Prosecutor Chris Van Marter said six police officers and nurses heard Taylor say he shot the victim. Also, gunshot residue was found on his hand, Van Marter said.

Van Marter said the prosecution believed Camacho was shot in a barn where Taylor lived in the hills above Kahuku.

Circuit Judge Michael Wilson scheduled the sentencing for Feb. 9. Taylor faces a mandatory life term with possibility of parole for the murder conviction.