Richmond, Va. (WTVR)-- In a trial that began Monday morning and concluded mid-morning Tuesday, Richmond prosecutors convinced a jury that 52-year-old Robin Mines and her 27-year-old son Jamal Clemons worked as a deadly team.
"Robin Mines set this robbery up," said Richmond prosecutor Chris Toepp. Her son pleaded guilty to the double-homicide that happened on Christmas Eve last year, near Church Hill in the city’s East End.
Toepp argued in court that the planned crime of robbery was what later led to Eddie Bowmer's murder and the murder of his visiting friend Robin Clapp, which made Mines also guilty of murder in the first-degree.
"These were heinous violent crimes that really had no rhyme or reason," said Toepp.
Clemons, who was convicted last month as the triggerman in the murders, took the stand in his mother's defense. He claimed that there was no plot but the jury and Bowmer's family didn't buy it.
"She deserved to be found guilty and I'm just so happy it's over now," said Gail Otey, Bowmer’s former wife.
For the loved ones of murder victim Eddie Bowmer, it may be impossible to ever celebrate Christmas without sadness again.
"The next few Christmases, that's all we're going to be able to remember," said his son Kenny Bowmer.
"So awful what happened to him--a horrible death," said Otey.
Six-months later the family is finally getting closure after both people charged with the crimes have been convicted and sentenced.
"It was a devastating loss to our family, my father was a great guy he was also my best friend," said Bowmer.
"These were heinous violent crimes that really had no rhyme or reason," said Toepp.
Mines was sentenced to 25 years on Tuesday.
Clemons is awaiting his sentencing in August after pleading guilty, offering info in exchange for a chicken dinner. Family members said that given the age of Mines the sentence will likely take the rest of her life to serve.
But Bowmer's son misses life with his dad. He claims that if his father were alive he would have prayed for Mines and Clemons.
"He always told me that if you can't forgive your enemy, then God won't forgive you," said Bowmer.
Mines cried and wailed loudly as her verdict and sentences were read in court. Her daughter left the courtroom with a loud outburst saying her mother and brother had both been taken from her.
