Two Life Terms For Last Defendant In Tulsa's Neal Sweeney Murder Case

The judge declined to postpone the sentencing after Johnson's attorney presented a letter from a juror saying she was pressured by fellow jurors to vote guilty.

Friday, January 4th 2013, 11:41 am

By: News On 6

Two Life Terms For Last Defendant In Tulsa's Neal Sweeney Murder Case

A judge sentenced Alonzo Johnson to two consecutive life sentences for his role in the 2008 murder of Tulsa businessman Neal Sweeney.

A jury found Johnson guilty in December of conspiracy to commit murder and first degree murder.

The judge declined to postpone the sentencing after Johnson's attorney presented a letter from a juror saying she was pressured by fellow jurors to vote guilty.

News On 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright says the judge said this juror was not the first to feel remorse over a verdict, but he had not heard of anyone blaming a change of heart on the legal system itself.

Johnson was the last person to stand trial in the case.

Terrico Bethel, the man who fired the fatal shots, was convicted of first degree murder last August. Mohammed Aziz pleaded guilty to hiring someone to kill Sweeney, Fred Shields was sentenced to consecutive life terms and Allen Shields committed suicide before going on trial.