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GREENSBORO — A Greensboro man was sentenced to life in prison without parole after being convicted Thursday of killing a Thomasville man. 

Scottie Alonzo Menser, 27,  was found guilty of first-degree murder in the Oct. 28, 2007,  slaying of Frank Gladney Jr., 42,  following a four-day trial.

Police and prosecutors described the killing to jurors as an “attempted robbery gone wrong.”

According to testimony, Menser, along with co-defendants Vonisha Lashell Patrick  and Malik Tashebaa Curry,  lured Gladney to an apartment on Lees Chapel Road shortly after midnight.

Court testimony stated that Gladney had a romantic interest in Patrick and she asked him to bring her food, with the belief he would spend the night at her apartment.

When Gladney arrived outside the apartment, Curry pulled a gun and demanded money.

They struggled,  and Gladney held Curry down and began punching him. Menser then came up behind the men and shot Gladney, according to testimony. He died at the scene.

All three suspects fled before police arrived.

Testimony from Patrick, Curry and another man who lived at the apartment — Marquise Alexander — all named Menser as the shooter.

Prosecutors also showed jurors a letter that Menser wrote while in jail to Patrick,  instructing her on what to tell police. In the letter, Menser warned  Patrick, also known as “Bee,” of spending the rest of her life in prison if she was found guilty of first-degree murder.

Menser wrote that Curry and Alexander were only telling police stories to protect themselves and the duo could overcome their charges by working together.

“Bee, I need to know that you are with me,” Menser wrote. “If we work together, we can beat them.”

Prosecutors dropped first-degree murder changes against Patrick and Curry in exchange for their testimony against Menser.

Patrick has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon. Curry pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon.

Menser’s attorney, Stanley Hammer,  tried to discredit their testimony, stating both lied to police repeatedly until they could get their charges reduced.

The jury deliberated about two hours before returning the guilty verdict.

As the verdict was read, Menser placed his head down on the defense table and later nervously put his hands on his face as Superior Court Judge A. Moses Massey  handed down the life sentence.

Menser did not testify and did not speak at his sentencing. Hammer told the court that Menser will appeal the verdict.

Patrick and Curry face sentencing at a later date.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com