Lawrence Man Convicted of Domestic Violence Related Murder in Re-Trial

01/18/2013
Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announces today a jury convicted Lawrence resident Christopher A. Belone, 43, of Murder in the Second Degree, Unintentional and Violation of a Protective Order. Linda Begay, 37, the victim in the case, died at Stormont Vail on August 1, 2006 of injuries inflicted by her boyfriend, Belone. On the afternoon of July 29, 2006, Belone found Ms. Begay in the home of a neighborhood friend. Belone beat Ms. Begay with a broken coffee table leg. He drug her into his truck and began to drive away with her. Ms. Begay escaped from the truck and tried to return to her home. The beating with the table leg was so severe, it tore her small intestine and she died of peritonitis two days later. According to Bureau of Justice statistics in 2005 1,181 women and 329 were killed by an intimate partner. That is an average of three women and one man per day. The DA's Office encourages any man or woman who is being abused to seek immediate assistance. Every situation is unique. Some people may be able to stay with family, some may need emergency shelter and in some cases law enforcement may need to get involved. The case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Eve Kemple and Chief Assistant District Attorney David Melton. Mr. Belone, depending on his prior criminal history faces a maximum penalty of 493 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections, will be sentenced on February 26 at 1:30 p.m. CONTACT INFO: Charles Branson Douglas County District Attorney 785-841-0211 cbranson@douglas-county.com -30-

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Media Contact:
Cheryl L. Wright - Assistant to the District Attorney
District Attorney's Office
785-841-0211
cwright@douglas-county.com