A teenager has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of his sister's 2018 murder, in which she was strangled to death.
Kevon Watkins, 18, had been with sister Alexus Breanna Watkins, 20, with their family at a home in Macon, Georgia, on 2 February 2018.
Testimony showed how Kevon - who was 16 at the time - had been arguing with his mother Latoya about the internet service in the house.
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According to a statement on the Macon District Attorney's website, the teen had 'changed the WiFi password so he could play video games without others who wanted to use the internet interrupting'.
As the situation escalated, Alexus became concerned that Kevon might get violent and came to help their mother, which was when she and Kevon began tussling and fell to the floor.
Unable to separate the two, Latoya called the police for help, but Kevon had placed his sister in a chokehold and held her there for approximately 15 minutes.
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Unbeknownst to Latoya until the testimony on Thursday, her 13-year-old son had also called 911 three minutes later.
Bibb Superior Court Judge Verda M. Colvin explained: "When he called, he said the following: 'My brother is trying to hit my mother.'
"The dispatcher asked, 'Is he on medication?' And the 13-year-old said, 'No. He's just crazy... He put her in a chokehold, threatening to beat my mom trying to get him off my sister'."
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One of the Bibb County deputies explained how Kevon still had a hold of Alexus when they arrived. He released her upon their command, and she fell to the floor before deputies immediately performed CPR in an attempt to resuscitate her. However, Alexus was sadly declared dead at a local hospital later that night.
Kevon waived his right to a jury trial and instead chose to have a Bibb County judge hear testimony and review evidence in the case.
On Friday 2 August, he was handed down a sentence of life in prison.
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Prosecutor Jason Martin presented evidence during the two-day trial, and in his closing argument said the testimony in the case did not support a manslaughter verdict.
While Kevon didn't intend to kill his sister, he did intentionally place Alexus in a chokehold - an aggravated assault - which resulted in her death, Martin argued, adding that by law, his actions therefore constitute felony murder.
"This act of violence resulted in an unspeakable tragedy for this family," said District Attorney David Cooke.
"I hope this verdict and sentence closes the door on this chapter of their lives and that they will be able to begin to heal."
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Judge Colvin said the decision was 'the most difficult thing' she has had to do since she took to the bench in April 2014.
Featured Image Credit: Bibb County Sheriffs Department