Jury finds Thomas guilty in robbery
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AMITE — Kelvin Thomas, 24, of Tangipahoa was convicted of manslaughter Friday in the shooting death of Vincent Bacile during a bungled robbery attempt at the Piggly Wiggly Supermarket in Independence on March 26, 2001.
Bacile, who was a supermarket employee, was shot in the neck at close range during the robbery attempt. Prosecutors claim that Thomas, who was on trial on a count of second-degree murder, was the trigger man.
A conviction of manslaughter carries with it a sentence of up to 40 years in prison. Judge Zoey Waguespack set sentencing for Dec. 8.
The jury voted 11-1 for the manslaughter conviction after the four-day trial. The jury deliberated two hours before reaching its verdict late Friday.
After court, Anthony Bacile, of Baton Rouge, the victim’s brother, said: “He (Thomas) got what he deserved. We have waited almost nine years for this day. He has affected our whole family and I still have nightmares about my brother’s killing. He was a good man … he had a full-time job and three part-time jobs. He didn’t deserve this.”
Scott Perrilloux, 21st Judicial District Attorney, said he respects the jury verdict.
“We felt that second-degree murder was the appropriate charge in this case but we understand and respect the jury’s findings,” he said. “Our two chief witnesses, who were co-defendants in this case, were not as strong as we had hoped for, but those things happen.”
The co-defendants were Christopher Johnson and Gary Matthews. Johnson is serving a 25-year sentence for his role in the robbery try and Matthews is serving an 8-year sentence for his involvement.
Defense Attorney Michael Thiel insisted the prosecution had only circumstantial evidence linking Thomas to the shooting death of Bacile.
During the trial, Johnson refused to identify Thomas as his accomplice on the night the two, along with assistance from Matthews, attempted to rob two store employees at the Piggly Wiggly at 9 p.m., after the store had closed.
In his closing argument, Assistant District Attorney Don Wall traced the outline of the crime from the time it was hatched at a meeting between Thomas, Matthews and Johnson to its conclusion. He said that evidence, especially DNA matches between Thomas and clothing that he ditched in the trailer park, pointed to his guilt.
Wall also said only one gun was used in the botched robbery and several witnesses said that Thomas was carrying the gun.
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