NORFOLK, Va. — Day one of the trial against convicted killer Cola Beale wrapped with the Commonwealth resting its case.
Already found guilty of the killing of his girlfriend and father figure in Virginia Beach, Beale now faces a Norfolk jury. He is accused of killing his cousin, Downing McLean, in 2022.
What was initially supposed to be a four-day trial is moving fast, just before 4 p.m. Tuesday — day one of the trial — the Commonwealth rested its case against Beale.
The judge seated the jury of 12, plus one alternate, just before noon and the Commonwealth worked its way through their five witnesses. The defense did not call any witnesses.
The murder of Beale’s cousin Downing McLean was part of Beale’s alleged killing spree two years ago.
On Tuesday, the jury heard from three Norfolk police officers and saw body camera video of the moment officers found McLean’s body in the Norfolk apartment. They also saw pictures of bullet casings and loose teeth on the floor of the apartment. The autopsy report shows McLean was shot in the mouth and back.
The Commonwealth argues the case of who killed McLean is not a mystery. They say most of the story comes from Beale himself.
In addition to his statement to both Norfolk and Virginia Beach investigators, Beale admitted to the murders in a jailhouse interview with 13News Now shortly after his arrest.
Beale’s attorneys say they are not disputing that Beale shot McLean, but they are disputing why it happened.
They allege McLean was there when Beale killed his girlfriend, Czavier Hill, and his father figure, Clifton Baxter, in Virginia Beach.
Beale's attorneys also argue McLean wanted Beale to kill more people in Norfolk on his behalf. They say McLean was drunk and belligerent when Beale ultimately shot him twice — calling him a “liability" and worrying about the safety of McLean's girlfriend and roommates in the apartment at the time. In his interview with Norfolk police, Beale said he shot McLean first in the mouth, then in the back to “make sure he went down.”
Beale’s attorneys argue the murder was not premeditated, and they’re asking for a manslaughter conviction instead of first-degree murder if the jury finds Beale guilty.
Beale is due back in court Wednesday morning for closing arguments and jury deliberation, meaning we could see a verdict in this case on day two of this trial.
Beale is set to be sentenced for the two Virginia Beach murders in July.