For Darren Brown Sr., the conviction of Lansing resident Benjamin French in the 2010 death of his son, Darren Brown Jr., and his rommate Owen Goodenow, was bittersweet.
Though he believes the jury was right in their final decision to hold French accountable on two counts of first degree murder and counts of conspiracy to commit murder, felony and armed robbery, Brown Sr. will never find true closure.
“They can’t close a book on a life,” Brown Sr. said. “It won’t bring Owen and Darren back.”
French was charged and found guilty of all charges against him after evidence suggested French and alleged coconspirator David Marion Jr. broke into Brown and Goodenow’s home to steal marijuana and money from Goodenow’s safe.
Ingham County Assistant Prosecutor Bill Crino said the evidence against French in the case, particularly his own admissions to aspects of the alleged crimes in interviews with police, was enough for the jury to unanimously decide upon a guilty verdict.
“We had proof beyond reasonable doubt … (French had) a joint part in the homicides,” Crino said.
The case was a long and emotional one, but Crino said he was confident the jury had placed emotion aside to come up with its decision.
G. Michael Hocking, French’s defense attorney, called the evidence against French a “legal Mount Everest,” but said he felt he did the best he could to represent French in the case.
“There was sufficient evidence on the record to justify the verdict,” Hocking said.
Hocking said he was sad for all of the victims and families involved in the case, and said the tragic deaths of Brown and Goodenow were indicative of problems with illegal drug culture.
Suzanne Goodenow, Owen Goodenow’s mother, said French’s guilty verdict made her son’s death feel more final, and was relieved to be through the trial.
“Owen and Darren are with us right now, and they’re probably celebrating,” Goodenow said.
Brown Sr. said his son had been a star student throughout his life and loved the time he spent at MSU, and was saddened by the prospect of him being remembered for the marijuana-related decisions he’d made just before his death.
“Something happened in the last six months,” Brown Sr. said. “That’s going to stain his life, and that bothers me.”
French’s sentencing is scheduled to be held 8:30 a.m. Jan. 11. French is likely to move for an appeal of the charges against him, Hocking said.
Marion’s trial is set for March 5, 2012.
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