By Kevin Jefferies
Commerce – An appeal has been rejected for a Commerce man convicted of capital murder. Larry Darnell Hatley was sentenced to life in prison in December 2004 in connection with the death of Edi Cruz Garcia. The Sixth Appellate District Court of Appeals in Texarkana rejected Hatley's appeal and upheld the jury's verdict late last month.
Garcia was killed during a robbery in July 2003. Police reports say Hatley, Louron Bernard Willis, and a juvenile intended to rob Garcia and two others, and the altercation ended with Garcia shot twice and killed. Willis was also sentenced to life in prison for the incident. The juvenile testified against Willis, pled guilty, and was given 20 years.
Hatley will serve at least 40 years before being eligible for parole.