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Jury Convicts Man Of Murder

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By TODD LESKANIC, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 14, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - Murder defendant Christopher Wright took the witness stand Wednesday, asking a jury to believe his account of John Benjamin's slaying over those of prosecution witnesses.

The panel of five men and seven women, however, found him guilty of first-degree murder Thursday after deliberating less than two hours.

Wright's attempt to distance himself from Benjamin's murder - committed to avenge a $300 drug debt - failed.

On the stand, Wright, 47, admitted to being a drug addict and a nine-time felon. He told the jury he witnessed the events leading up to the slaying, but merely watched as co-defendant Daniel Parbel killed the 37-year-old father of two on Sept. 24, 2005.

The jury agreed with Assistant State Attorney Michael Halkitis, who told jurors in his closing argument that Wright had failed to preface his testimony with four key words: "Once upon a time."

Wright joins Parbel, convicted of murder last month, in serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Testimony in both men's trials painted a vivid picture of west Pasco County's drug culture, a circle Benjamin became involved with in the final months of his life. Benjamin had been an optician, but turned to drugs when he ran into tough financial times.

"For $300 his life was taken from him," Benjamin's brother, Robert, told Judge William Webb in court Thursday. "As I found out through this trial, this is Mr. Wright's 10th felony conviction. I don't know why the system has allowed him out in the streets, but it's been way too long and it cost my brother his life."

Benjamin was killed in a desolate area off Hays Road. His throat was cut and he was stabbed and beaten. Parbel and Wright returned hours later and set a fire that left Benjamin's remains unrecognizable. A construction worker discovered the scene the next day.

Two months later, Pasco County sheriff's investigators arrested Parbel and Wright.

The ordeal began when Benjamin's drug supplier, Sherry Harris, fronted him $300 worth of cocaine. Harris, stepdaughter of former Port Richey police Chief Bill Sager, was selling drugs for dealer Mike Lind, according to testimony. Harris testified she needed the money to pay Lind.

She tracked Benjamin down at a house on Tidalwave Drive in New Port Richey. Parbel was already there, holding a shotgun and standing near Benjamin. Harris, Parbel, Benjamin and Yusef "Voodoo" Wilson left the house in Harris' Isuzu SUV. They drove to pay phones around west Pasco County so Benjamin could call his family and ask for money.

When that didn't work, they holed up at a motel on U.S. 19. There, Benjamin was forced into the bathroom and threatened. Wright arrived soon after. Parbel and Wright then loaded Benjamin into Harris' SUV and drove him to the site off Hays Road.

Wilson, who was also with them, testified that Parbel drove the vehicle into the woods and then stopped. When Wilson looked over, he saw Wright reach around Benjamin's neck and make a slashing motion.

Benjamin jumped out of the SUV and tried to flee, but Parbel and Wright chased him down, Wilson said.

Benjamin got away and managed to get into the driver's seat, lock the door and drive away. But the SUV got stuck in the sand.

Wright and Parbel ran to it, dragged Benjamin out and continued stabbing and beating him, then left him for dead.

The men called Lind, who drove to the scene and brought them to his house. They changed clothes and prepared to return to the scene and set fire to evidence.

Although Lind figured prominently in testimony, he wasn't charged in the murder. In his closing remarks, Halkitis referred to Parbel and Wright as Lind's "henchmen."

"The hands of Mike Lind were there, weren't they?" Halkitis said. "Parbel, the right hand, and Chris Wright, the left hand. They were the hands of Mike Lind. And they were going to make sure that this guy suffers for not paying the $300."

Reporter Todd Leskanic can be reached at (727) 815-1084 or tleskanic@tampatrib.com.

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