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VIRGINIA BRIEFING
ALEXANDRIA
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Man Convicted in Double Slaying
An Alexandria jury convicted a 19-year-old man on two counts of first-degree murder yesterday in the April deaths of two men, the city's first double homicide in 13 years.
The jury of nine women and three men found Darrell Watson of Alexandria guilty in the killings of Nathan L. Lee, 31, and Mark A. Collins, 28, before dawn April 19. Lee, of Alexandria, and Collins, of Landover, were found lying in the middle of Route 1, between Montgomery and Madison streets, just blocks from Old Town.
The prosecution based its case on witness accounts because there was no forensic evidence. Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Bryan Porter described Watson, whom the witnesses knew, as an arrogant killer. Porter contended that he was relying on community reluctance to talk to the police to get away with murder. He said Watson killed the men over a dice game gone bad.
Defense attorney Gary Smith tried to create doubt in the jury by calling witnesses who said they saw a car leave the scene just after the slayings.
Watson faces two life sentences.
-- Daniela Deane
LOUDOUN COUNTY
Duplex Fire Tied to Decoration
A fire Monday night at a Leesburg duplex started when an electric decoration overheated, the Loudoun County Fire Marshal's Office said yesterday.
The fire, at 109 Mayfair Dr. NW, forced the evacuation of 11 people, seven of whom received temporary housing assistance through the Loudoun chapter of the American Red Cross, authorities said. No one was injured.
