Carnell "Sugar Bear" Webb Found NOT GUILTY of Murder

It was a shocking verdict in a murder trial that sent more than a dozen deputies into downtown Baton Rouge to keep the peace. Carnell "Sugar Bear" Webb was found not guilty of murdering 18-year-old Godfrey Chambers last year. It was an emotional ending to a three-day second-degree murder trial that divided the courtroom between the defendant and the victim's family.

Friends of Carnell "Sugar Bear" Webb don't want to wait for him to be processed out of Parish Prison. They want him out now. Last year, he was accused of killing 18-year-old Godfrey Chambers. The jury stunned the courtroom by handing down a not guilty verdict because during the trial, two eyewitnesses testified that "Sugar Bear" was the killer. Family members of the victim were incensed. Carla Chambers, the victim's mother, says, "It was known he did it. He think he bad, but trust me, the Lord ain't sleep and what goes around comes around."

East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff's deputies hit the streets following the verdict to keep the peace. "Sugar Bear's" mother says she feels for the victim's family. Alicia Webb says, "I'm sorry, like I said, for the family's loss. Truly, I sympathize with them, but I feel relief that my son is coming home." However, the pain runs deep when you lose a loved one. Elie Chambers, the victim's brother, says, "Any man that shoot another man in his back ain't no man, is a coward. That what this is now. This little girl got to grow up without him for the rest of her life."

Defense attorney Tommy Damico says the jury did not buy the state's case. He argued that the eyewitnesses were not credible. Damico says, "I believe that the state's case failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt and I think the jury saw that." As for the state, it was clearly a disappointing verdict. Lead prosecutor Will Morris says, "Strange things happen and you got to respect the jury's verdict, but I felt I proved my case. I would say I'm definitely disappointed."

District Court Judge Todd Hernandez polled the jurors after the verdict was announced. "Sugar Bear" was found not guilty by a vote of 11-1, and it's his birthday.

Reporter:  Jim Shannon, WAFB 9NEWS