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Guilty verdict in Darrent Williams trial

DENVER (AP)—Suspected gang member Willie Clark was found guilty of murderThursday in the drive-by shooting death of Denver Broncos cornerback DarrentWilliams(notes).

A jury returned the verdict after an 11-day trial and a day and a half ofdeliberation.

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Clark showed no emotion as the verdict was read, but leaned back and lookedat the ceiling once the jury was dismissed. He gave a small smile to relativesbefore he was taken from the courtroom in handcuffs.

There was no immediate word on a possible appeal, but defense attorneyDarren Cantor told three sobbing people in the courtroom, “Try to breathe, OK?That’s what appeals are for.”

Williams’ mother, Rosalind, wept as she left the courtroom. Cantor toldreporters that Clark’s family was upset and didn’t want to speak to reporters.

Clark faces life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for April 30.

Williams was killed on New Year’s Day 2007. Prosecutors said Clark fired thefatal shots from an SUV that pulled up beside a rented limo carrying Williamsand some friends.

“It was this man, who indiscriminately, with universal maliciousness …took it upon himself to unload his .40-caliber handgun into that limousine fullof innocent people,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Timothy Twining said in hisclosing argument.

Clark was angry over an altercation involving friends of Williams andfriends of Clark that occurred in a nightclub just before the shooting,prosecutors said. A member of Williams’ group had sprayed champagne on NewYear’s partiers.

Defense attorney Abraham Hutt said Clark wasn’t even in the SUV during theshooting.

“This is what this is about: Willie Clark is a scapegoat,” Hutt toldjurors.

Hutt tried to undercut the credibility of five prosecution witnesses who gotshorter prison time in other cases in exchange for testifying. Hutt said thefive saw their sentences reduced by a combined 188 years.

Hutt said the prosecution’s star witness, Daniel “Ponytail” Harris, faceda life sentence for a drug charge but will be released within two years. Harristestified that he saw Clark fire the shots.

Security was tight throughout the trial, and 13 armed sheriff’s deputiesstood in the courtroom as the verdict was read.

Clark declined to testify, citing threats to himself and his family. Cantorsaid gang members had threatened to turn him into “Swiss cheese” if he saidanything in court.

Associated Press Writer Colleen Slevin contributed to this report.

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