MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Former Memphis firefighter Frank Graham was found guilty of First Degree Murder for the death of his ex-fiance.
Taffi Crawford was murdered in the Delta Medical Center in February 2010. Defense attorneys for Graham argued that Crawford's death was unintentional, but prosecutors maintained that it was pre-meditated.
Graham, now 36, had stated that he just wanted to "scare" Crawford when she arrived for work that day at Delta Medical, but tripped and accidentally shot her. Prosecutors argued that Crawford was shot three times, and forensics showed two shots were fired as she was on the ground.
Following an 8-day trial, the jury returned a guilty verdict on January 16, 2012.
Tears streamed down the faces of Taffi Crawford's family as they exited the courtroom, minutes after Graham's conviction.
"Closure, we can move on. It's just closure," said Kittreata Edwards, Crawford's cousin.
Frank Graham was immediately sentenced to life in prison. He may be eligible for parole after he's served 51 years behind bars.
"We all lose here: his family loses, my family loses, the children lose, but it does bring us to a place where we can go somewhere from here," said Ruby Tinnom, Crawford's aunt.
