A jury today found a 41-year-old Clearwater man guilty of first-degree murder in the Dec. 28, 2007, shooting of his ex-girlfriend in St. Petersburg.
Troy Sierra was charged a couple of days after Kelly D. Burgess, 27, was found dead at 540 Carillon Parkway N., Building 9, Apt. 3087. She had been shot in the head twice with a 9mm handgun, St. Petersburg police have said. A third shot hit the floor.
Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Philip Federico sentenced Sierra to life in prison, court spokesman Ron Stuart said.
Sierra took the stand in his own defense during the two-day trial, creating a long and elaborate alibi involving drinking and another woman that, if true, exonerated him. Federico called Sierra's testimony a ridiculous act that highlighted the cowardice behind the slaying, Stuart said.
Lt. Mike Kovascev said Sierra and Burgess had a bad break-up. They lived together at two apartments, but she moved out of the second apartment and started dating another man. She returned to that second apartment to pick up a few things and was later found shot to death there.
Troy Sierra was charged a couple of days after Kelly D. Burgess, 27, was found dead at 540 Carillon Parkway N., Building 9, Apt. 3087. She had been shot in the head twice with a 9mm handgun, St. Petersburg police have said. A third shot hit the floor.
Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Philip Federico sentenced Sierra to life in prison, court spokesman Ron Stuart said.
Sierra took the stand in his own defense during the two-day trial, creating a long and elaborate alibi involving drinking and another woman that, if true, exonerated him. Federico called Sierra's testimony a ridiculous act that highlighted the cowardice behind the slaying, Stuart said.
Lt. Mike Kovascev said Sierra and Burgess had a bad break-up. They lived together at two apartments, but she moved out of the second apartment and started dating another man. She returned to that second apartment to pick up a few things and was later found shot to death there.
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