'Sweetie Pie' star found guilty in nephew's shooting death
Sep 16, 2022
A former star of a reality TV show based in St. Louis has been convicted of arranging the killing of his nephew
ST. LOUIS (AP) — A federal jury on Friday convicted a former star of the St. Louis-based reality TV show “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” of arranging the shooting death of his nephew.
The jury deliberated about 17 hours over three days before reaching its verdict in the murder-for-hire case against James “Tim” Norman, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. He was charged with conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
Norman and his nephew, Andre Montgomery, both starred in the long-running OWN reality show about a popular soul-food business founded in the St. Louis area by Robbie Montgomery — Norman’s mother and Andre’s grandmother.
Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty but Norman could be sentenced to up to life in prison. Sentencing is set for Dec. 15.
Federal prosecutors said Norman, 43, hired two people to kill the 21-year-old Montgomery on March 14, 2016, then tried to cash a $450,000 life insurance policy taken out on his nephew months earlier.
Defense attorney Michael Leonard said after the verdict that he and Norman were “extremely surprised and disappointed in the outcome” of the case. He said they plan to appeal and that Norman continues to be optimistic that he will eventually prevail.
Leonard said the testimony during the trial of two co-conspirators was shown to be “extremely non-credible.” And he said Norman testified well during the trial, noting he was not cross-examined.
U.S. Attorney Sayler Fleming said she was “very, very pleased” with the verdict but that her office would make no further statements until after the sentencing.
During closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Angie Danis said Norman was the architect of the plan to kill Montgomery.
“This plan doesn’t exist but for Tim Norman’s greed,” Danis said.
Leonard argued in his closing argument that the murder plot presented by prosecutors was a “made up theory.”
Prosecutors said Norman paid $10,000 to an exotic dancer, Terica Ellis, to lure his nephew to the site where he was shot and paid $5,000 to Travell Anthony Hill to shoot Montgomery.
Ellis and Hill both testified for the prosecution in the case. They have both pleaded guilty to participating in the scheme.
In testimony during the trial, Norman said he helped his nephew move to St. Louis about 18 months before he was killed and supported him financially because he was trying to watch out for Montgomery. He said he sought to be a “father figure” to his brother's son.
Former Sweetie Pie’s employees and other character witnesses testified that Norman and his nephew had a close relationship.
Danis said all the testimony from the scheme's co-conspirators was backed up in trial by texts, call records and location data.
She said Norman created “an image of being a mentor and a father figure to all these people, but it’s fiction.”
Leonard said during his closing argument that Ellis testified to get a shorter sentence and said Hill admitted he was a heavy drug user and that he was “hopped up on drugs that day.”
Norman testified Tuesday that he took out the life insurance policy on his nephew to give a longtime customer of the family restaurants, Waiel Rebhi Yaghnam, some business.
Yaghnam pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and wire fraud in the case.
Montgomery left St. Louis after at least $220,000 in cash, jewelry and other items were stolen in a June 2015 burglary at Robbie Montgomery’s home.
Norman told jurors he and his mother hired a private investigator to find and confront his nephew about the robbery but he had no intention of hurting him.
More News
Claes Bang, Emma Mackey, Vicky Krieps and More Join Marion Cotillard in Marrakech Jury
Marrakech Film Festival has revealed the lineup of the jury, which is led by Marion Cotillard, as previously announced. Judging the winners of the Étoile d’Or from among the 14 films in competition will be Danish actor Claes Bang, who gained international recognition for his turn in Ruben Östlund’s “The Square,” which won the Palme […]
‘Hamnet’ Play From Royal Shakespeare Company Sets First U.K. Tour
The Royal Shakespeare Company’s stage version of “Hamnet,” Lolita Chakrabarti’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel about William Shakespeare’s family and the death of his 11-year-old son, will tour the U.K. for the first time starting in September 2027. Fiery Angel and Neal Street Productions are presenting the RSC production, which previously played London’s West End. […]
Bollywood Romance ‘Weekend’ Eyes First Indian Feature Shoot in Russia’s Yakutia as Picture Perfect Signs MoU With Sakhafilm, Saidam Baryl (EXCLUSIVE)
Indian romantic drama “Weekend” is eyeing a shoot in Russia’s remote Sakha Republic, also known as Yakutia, after producer Vivek Singhania’s banner Picture Perfect signed a memorandum of understanding with local outfits Saidam Baryl and Sakhafilm to explore taking the production there. The three-way MoU was signed during the recently concluded 9th Yakutsk International Film […]
Nicole Kidman To Receive Honorary César In France
Nicole Kidman will be feted with an Honorary César at the 52nd César Ceremony in Paris in February 2026. She follows in the wake of Jim Carrey (2026) Julia Roberts (2025), Christopher Nolan (2024), David Fincher (2023) Cate Blanchett (2022), Robert Redford (2019) and George Clooney (2017). The Australian actress has worked with a number […]
‘Bridgerton’ Star Adjoa Andoh Creating & Starring In ITV Detective Drama ‘Protect And Serve’
EXCLUSIVE: Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh is swapping Shonda Rhimes’ regency wonderland for an ITV detective drama. Andoh is creating her first drama series, Protect and Serve [working title], with Time scribe Helen Black. Andoh will play the lead, DI Araba Dadzie, a cop, mother and daughter. Araba is in the squeezed middle of her life, […]
‘The Bureau’ Producer Federation Studios Moves to Recapitalize as Lionel Uzan Succeeds Pascal Breton as President
Federation Studios, the Paris-based group behind French spy series “The Bureau,” is overhauling its finances and leadership, with co-founder Lionel Uzan succeeding Pascal Breton as president and Montefiore and the company’s financial shareholders set to take majority control. The company said Thursday that it settled on the plan after weighing a number of strategic alternatives. […]
James Bond Producer Barbara Broccoli to Be President of U.K.’s National Film and Television School
James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has been revealed as the next president of the U.K.’s National Film and Television School. She succeeds Oscar-winning producer David Puttnam in the role. Broccoli will be the first female president in the NFTS’s history. Puttnam, whose credits include “Chariots of Fire,” “The Killing Fields” and “Midnight Express,” is to […]
Barbara Broccoli Appointed President Of UK’s National Film & Television School
EXCLUSIVE: Barbara Broccoli has been named the first female president of the UK’s National Film and Television School (NFTS). The storied James Bond producer becomes President just a few weeks before the opening of a building dedicated to her father, the legendary Cubby Broccoli. Barbara Broccoli will build on her longstanding relationship with the NFTS […]
Lionel Uzan Succeeding Pascal Breton As President Of Federation Studios; Montefiore Ups Stake
Federation Studios’ Lionel Uzan is taking the reins at the French entertainment giant with Pascal Breton stepping back, as Montefiore Investments becomes a majority shareholder. Federation, which had been seeking a huge cash injection of hundreds of millions of euros for the past couple of years, will have a new structure with an increase of […]
Russell Brand Documentary From ‘Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story’ Producers Set at Netflix Days After Rape Sentencing
Netflix has unveiled a documentary on Russell Brand, days after the comedian and former actor received a prison term of 10 years and six months for rape and sexual assault. “Russell Brand: Open Secret” is directed by Olivia Isaacs and produced by Fremantle-owned 72 Films, the company behind “Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story.” The […]
‘I Play Rocky’ Opens 50th Anniversary Edition of Cairo Film Festival as Chief Hussein Fahmy Looks to the Future
As the Cairo Intl. Film Festival celebrates 50 years since its founding, president Hussein Fahmy wants younger Egyptians to rediscover their country’s rich cinematic heritage. For the veteran actor, introducing new audiences to the films that established Egypt as the Arab world’s cinematic capital is central to the festival’s future. Speaking to Variety ahead of […]
Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan play an occasionally thrilling game of cat-and-mouse in Apple's 12 12 12
Apple TV's heist show 12 12 12 might be built on tropes, but it's got style to spare and great performances by Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan.