Two Tucson men are facing life sentences after being convicted Wednesday of first-degree murder in an August 2010 shooting death.
Aerath C. Hubert and Jarrett C. Carter were also convicted of multiple counts of attempted armed robbery.
During opening statements last week, Deputy Pima County Attorney Malena Acosta told jurors that on Aug. 27, 2010, Ciprian “Chip” Vasile asked his friend Christopher Montaño, to go with him to buy $20 worth of marijuana.
Hubert, 27, told Vasile he would have a friend meet him at a shopping center near East 36th Street and South County Club Road, Acosta said.
When the pair arrived, an armed man jumped into the backseat of Vasile’s car and announced he was going to rob them, Acosta said. The man shot Montaño. As Vasile tried to start the car and leave, Carter appeared, broke Vasile’s window to try to grab the keys and cut himself in the process, Acosta said.
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Vasile drove Montaño to a hospital, but he died from his wounds, Acosta said.
Hubert is guilty of felony first-degree murder because he arranged the drug buy, and Carter's actions at the scene also make him culpable, the prosecutor said.
Hubert's attorney, David Basham, told jurors there is no evidence Hubert helped in the robbery scheme.
Carter's attorneys, Joel Feinman and Dean Brault said Vasile told police three different stories in the hours after the shooting and couldn’t be trusted.
The man suspected of shooting Montaño, Mario Ramon-Antonio Acedo, 19, is scheduled to go to trial Dec. 6.
Carter and Hubert will be sentenced Dec. 5 by Pima County Superior Court Judge Paul Tang.
Contact reporter Kim Smith at 573-4241 or kimsmith@azstarnet.com
