Jurors reach verdict in gold chain robbery trial

Willie Barney found guilty of felony murder, strong-armed robbery

MIAMI – Jurors reached a verdict in the trial of a man accused of shooting a Miami-Dade police detective during a gold chain robbery.

Jurors on Friday found Willie Barney guilty of felony murder and strong-armed robbery after deliberating for two and a half hours.

Barney shot Det. Wislyn Joseph in the chest outside a church in Miami's Little Haiti neighborhood on Sept. 22, 2012, according to prosecutors. Barney and two others robbed Joseph of his gold bracelet and his gold chain his late grandmother left him.

Tears forced Joseph out of the courtroom Thursday as he testified against Barney. He also testified in the first trial, but Barney was granted a retrial over an issue with a juror, and testified in an earlier hearing.

Barney was sentenced to life in prison right after the verdict was read. He was also found guilty of strong-armed robbery and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Investigators have linked Barney and two others to several other gold chain robberies.