Because the father’s defense involved accusing his son of committing the murder without his participation, the two men were tried by separate juries.
Bickham Sr.’s eight man, four woman jury, which included the jury foreman among three African Americans, took just under four hours to reach a verdict of first degree murder.
Jurors also found that Bickham Sr. committed that murder in a “cold, calculating and premeditated manner.”
Bickham Sr. stood motionless next to his attorneys as jury foreman Louis Towers passed the verdict sheets over to the judge, and remained expressionless as the court clerk read the verdicts.
Around two hours earlier a second jury, which got Devin Bickham Jr.’s case just before noon, found him guilty.
The alleged gunman in the case, Cardell Taylor, will be tried later this year.