LOS ANGELES (AP) — A man convicted in the 1999 murder of a businessman who was stuffed in the trunk of his Bentley and died as his kidnappers fled police was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Boris George Graham, 37, was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping and other charges in the death of Christopher Rawlings, a 30-year-old clothing store owner who wore a diamond-encrusted Rolex watch.
Graham's attorney, Marilynn VanDam, has promised to appeal.
Authorities said two masked men followed Rawlings to his home and forced him into the trunk of his Bentley. The pair also stole jewelry and other items from the home and fled in the car.
Rawlings' wife hid on the roof of the house with the couple's children during the robbery and called 911. Police officers arrived as the Bentley was leaving and pursued it.
During the chase, the Bentley crashed and burst into flames. Rawlings was thrown from the trunk, hit a brick wall and died two days later.
The robbers fled, but Kirrell Francis Taylor was arrested while in jail on an unrelated charge. He also was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Graham was arrested in 2004 in Florida after the TV show "America's Most Wanted" profiled the slaying.
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