DENVER—A 28-year-old Greeley man has been convicted of gunning down his girlfriend’s former husband.
A jury took just three hours Friday to convict Cecil Joe Erb of first-degree murder in the death of Jeffrey Watson. Weld County District Judge Julie Hoskins immediately sentenced Erb to life in prison without parole.
Prosecutors say Erb planned for as long as a year to kill Watson in a plot to cash in on a $100,000 life insurance that named Watson’s ex-wife as the beneficiary. They believe Erb ambushed Watson, who was sitting in his car getting ready for work on Feb. 19, 2009.
Authorities say 29 bullets were fired into Watson’s vehicle.
Erb said Watson took a shot at him earlier that morning.
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Information from: Greeley Daily Tribune,
