Gai Kuot was convicted of first degree premeditated murder, felony murder and especially aggravated robbery.
Malith Wiek, 33, was shot and killed in April 2010.NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
A Davidson County jury Monday morning found Sudanese native Gai Kuot guilty of killing his roommate in west Nashville in April 2010.
The jury deliberated less than three hours before convicting Kuot of first degree premeditated murder, felony murder and especially aggravated robbery in the shooting death of 33-year-old Malith Wiek.
Wiek was one of the Sudanese refugees known as the Lost Boys of the Sudan who escaped their home country in the midst of a civil war there.
He had been working as a custodian at Montgomery Bell Academy for six years at the time of his death.
Testimony during the trial showed that Kuot had been writing checks to himself from the victim's checking account and cashing them.
On the day of the murder, Kuot had called Wiek and said he needed a ride and asked Wiek to come pick him up.
Wiek's body was found shortly after that, next to a fence at the corner of 42nd Avenue North and Indiana Avenue.
He had been shot to death and his wallet has been stolen.
His car was found later that afternoon in an East Nashville alley.
Kuot's first degree murder conviction carries an automatic sentence of at least 51 years in prison.
He will be sentenced on the especially aggravated robbery charge next month.
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