A State Supreme Court jury on Friday convicted two 17-year-olds of murder and robbery charges in connection with the shooting death of a Buffalo cab driver last March.
Sean Austin and Maurice Howie could face lengthy prison terms when they are sentenced May 14. They were convicted of shooting cabbie Mazen Abdallah in the head in his taxi along Norfolk Avenue, and then taking his cell phone and wallet.
The robbery and slaying of Abdallah, 55, was the sixth in a series of robberies of cab drivers and food deliverymen that began three months earlier. Both teens were found guilty of multiple counts of robbery, as well as second-degree murder.
Howie, who was a star quarterback for South Park High School, was involved in two of the robberies. Austin was charged in all six. Both face up to life in prison at sentencing.
More than 60 witnesses were called during the trial. Friday was the third day of jury deliberations in State Supreme Court.
Two other suspects are charged with robbery in other crimes and will stand trial in April.
