Man, 19, Convicted In '98 Murder

TACOMA - A Pierce County Superior Court jury convicted a 19-year-old Tacoma man of second-degree murder in a 1998 shooting death, after failing to agree unanimously on a first-degree murder conviction.

The verdict left both sides unhappy.

Nathan Dallas Brightman was charged with first-degree murder in the slaying of Dexter Villa, 25, a Tacoma Community College student.

Jurors could not agree that Brightman had premeditated the killing or that he killed Villa while committing a robbery, elements that would have supported a first-degree murder charge.

Defense attorneys argued the Oct. 1, 1998, shooting in Tacoma's Titlow Park was accidental and occurred after Villa tried to steal $27 from Brightman in a marijuana deal. Prosecutors contended Brightman shot Villa in the head during a robbery as he took Brightman's customized Acura automobile. Jurors deliberated nearly three full days before reaching Friday's verdict.

In a statement read by an aunt, the family said, "We do not believe that justice has yet prevailed, we believe that in the long run it will. We continue to staunchly support Nathan in his version of events."

Villa's mother, Belma, said that the defense version was a lie that added to his family's pain, and that Brightman should spend the rest of his life in prison.

"My son continues to be a victim" she said. "He (Brightman) killed him, and then they continued to destroy his reputation. I hate that my son's name is even linked to drugs."

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 8.