Jury Finds Man Guilty Of First-Degree Murder

Navarro Siblings Haunted By Brother's Murder

Last updated Friday, February 24, 2006 10:52 PM CST in Front

By Trish Mehaffey
The Morning News

Edwards, 41, was beaten, smashed in the head with a dumbbell, burned by a hot pan of beans, stabbed 36 times with a knife and screwdriver and strangled with an extension cord on Nov. 25, 2004, according to testimony during the trial.

John Threet, chief deputy prosecutor, said Navarro will die in prison. He shouldn't be free in society. He is thankful to the jury and couldn't second guess their decision to choose the lesser offense. He said the jurors had to do what they felt was right.

"They have gone through a lot this week," Threet said. "The time and stress they've experienced is difficult. It's draining. People in this office and all the police, especially Detective Brian Johnson, did a great job. He had the suspects in this case two hours after the crime."

Cristi Beaumont, Navarro's attorney, said she was disappointed about the life sentence but appreciated the service of the jury.

"I'm saddened for all families in this case. They have gone through a lot," she said.

Navarro and Michael Chavez, 18, of Springdale broke into the apartment where Edwards was staying to steal his music equipment and electronic devices. Chavez pleaded guilty to first-degree murder last year for his part in Edwards' death. Chavez told police he threw a pan of hot beans on Edwards and Navarro did the killing. Chavez faces life in prison and will be sentenced March 14.

Richard Edwards, David Edwards' brother, said outside the courtroom that he didn't understand why Navarro wasn't convicted of capital murder. He said he felt the evidence presented included the elements required to establish the crime of capital murder. He said he hoped the end of the trial would provide peace and closure for Edwards' family.

Richard Edwards and his two sisters read statements of how his brother's murder has affected their family before the jurors went out to deliberate the sentencing.

"I wish everyone had known David. We say so little about the victim and hear so much about the defendant and the murder. What about David?" Richard Edwards asked.

David Edwards had dreams of opening a recording studio, Richard Edwards said. He will never get that chance or the chance to raise his 15-year-old daughter, Eurinda Edwards.

Richard Edwards said he suffers guilt over the Thanksgiving night his brother was killed. David Edwards asked his brother to come in and play guitar with him that night, but Richard Edwards said he didn't have time.

"What if I had stayed?" Richard Edwards said.

Joyce Holman, David Edwards' sister, said her brother taught her to love and respect herself and learn how to look at others. She and Richard Edwards didn't grow up with David and the rest of her family. They grew up in an abusive, alcoholic environment and didn't come to live with David until 1975, she said.

"David always made sure I knew he loved me," Holman said.

Others looked at David and said he looked like a hippie, rocker or drug addict but "you can't judge a book by its cover," she said. He may have had long hair and wore Iron Maiden T-shirts but he was the brother she can't see again.

Richard Edwards and Holman told the jurors they both have nightmares and were haunted by the murder and the loss of their brother.

Several friends and family members took the stand on Navarro's behalf. All said this was out of character for the person they knew.

John Threet, chief deputy prosecutor, said he heard a lot of excuses from Navarro's family and friends and wish David Edwards could have known that "really nice, nice man" but he didn't.

Threet told the jury that, if they were considering anything less than life, they should go through the photos of David Edwards' body.

The graphic photos showed the extent of the Edward's injuries. His skull was like a jigsaw puzzle or "shattered," as the medical examiner described it on Wednesday.

Beaumont argued during his closing the evidence before the jury proved he lacks the capacity to understand what he was doing. She said Navarro had a child-like mind and reads on a third-grade level.

Chavez was the brains behind the crime, she said.

Beaumont said Chavez was the one who broke into the apartment and started pushing Edwards around. Edwards probably fought back and then Navarro got involved to defend his friend, Chavez. Navarro admitted to police he only punched and kicked Edwards, she said.

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