Covington County man who was found guilty earlier in the year of the murder of 17 year old Layla Rebecca Watson was sentenced this week.
Damien Lashawn Beasley, 19 Damien Lashawn Beasley, 19, of Andalusia was found guilty by an Covington County jury on charges of manslaughter, abusing the corpse and tampering with physical evidence. This week, the presiding Circuit Court Judge Charles “Lex” Short sentenced Beasley to the maximum sentences, which included 20 years of prison for manslaughter. He also gave 10 years in the case of abuse of a body, and up to one year in prison for the act of tampering with evidence. The judge ordered that these sentences be consecutive for an overall prison term of 31 years, which is the maximum permitted by Alabama law. Beasley is also required to pay for Watson’s funeral expenses and burial costs at a total of $17,790. fines totaling $51,000 and a $10,000 payment for the Alabama Victims’ Compensation Fund.
In the trial of August in August, jurors saw evidence that following the shooting of Layla, Beasley dragged her body around the woods in an effort to conceal her, and also concealed the gun that killed her. The sentencing hearing was held on August 29th. the mother of Layla, Marcie Watson read an essay she had written regarding the passing of her elder daughter. In the letter, she wrote, “her littlest sister has to visit the graveyard after every game, to embrace a cold headstone rather than an iced body.”
Beasley was represented by Gulf Shores attorney Riley Powell.
It was a representation of the state by District Attorney Walt Merrell and Chief Assistant District Attorney Grace Jeter.
“So many people came together in search of justice on behalf of Layla and I hope Beasley’s convictions, sentences and convictions will bring relatives and acquaintances of her some closure. We will keep them in our prayers,” Jeter said.
Merrell said that he hopes the public is aware of this decision and its conviction.
“Not every parent is teaching their children the truth about life. In real life, not everybody gets an award and there is an accountability. We will make people accountable, and that can mean jail,” Merrell said.
The article Beasley sent to life sentence for the murder of Layla Watson appeared first on The Andalusia Star-News.
