A Point Loma man who acted as the getaway driver in the slaying of an Ocean Beach liquor store clerk and a mortgage broker in 2004 was sentenced June 22 to two consecutive terms of life in state prison without the possibility of parole.
Theron Lee Peters, 40, was also given a third life term plus seven years, consecutively, for the robbery of another man who was not killed.
The liquor store clerk, Richard Hammes, 45, was shot to death by a second man whose jury continues to deliberate this week.
Tecumseh Colbert, 23, of the North Bay Terraces area, went on trial in June in San Diego Superior Court. The jury began deliberations June 21. He is charged with special circumstances alleging he killed multiple victims during the course of a robbery.
If convicted, the jury will then enter the penalty phase to recommend whether Colbert should get the death penalty or life terms without the possibility of parole.
Peters apologized to the victims’ relatives during his sentencing before Judge Michael Wellington, who also fined him $10,000. The fine could partially be paid through meager prison wages that Peters could earn if he works during imprisonment.
Hammes was filling in temporarily for a clerk at Prime Market Liquor, 4161 Voltaire St., when a man wearing an “old man” Halloween mask demanded money Nov. 10, 2004. The store’s camera footage showed Hammes walking toward the gunman without giving him the money.
He was shot in the chest. The footage, minus the actual shooting, aired on local television newscasts. Hammes died an hour later at an area hospital.
Store owner Saad Ewdish let Hammes live in a shed on the property, and Hammes served as the clerk when Ewdish had to leave unexpectedly to care for his ill son that day.
The other murder victim was Robert McCamey, 32, of University City, who was shot to death on Oct. 29, 2004, in the Bay Terraces area.
Peters opted not to go to trial and pleaded guilty April 9 to two counts of first-degree murder, a special circumstance of murder during a robbery, two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, kidnapping for robbery, carjacking, robbery and attempted carjacking.
A third victim was robbed and had his car stolen by Peters and Colbert, but he was not killed. According to prosecutors, Peters and Colbert contacted the victim in answer to a classified ad over a Cadillac.
Both Colbert and Peters have remained in county jail without bail since their arrests in November 2004.