A jury yesterday rejected a man's claim that police abused him into giving a false statement and unanimously convicted him of murder. Rolin Alexis was tried for the July 2011 shooting death of Deslin Nichols, who was also known as Limbo. He returns for sentencing before Justice Bernard Turner in July.

Nichols was shot multiple times as he sat in his vehicle at Florida Court, off Balfour Avenue. In his testimony, Alexis said that police commenced an interrogation about 30 minutes after Dion Smith, his attorney at the time, left the Central Detective Unit. Alexis said that police assured Smith that they had no plans to conduct an interview.

According to Alexis, Smith told the officers that he would remain in the area if they changed their minds. Alexis said he asked an officer to call Smith, but the officer told him that he was unable to reach Smith. He said that he was taken into a room, where a superintendent placed a "fish bag" over his head, which cut his breath.

Alexis said that he was able to bite through the bag, but the superintendent doubled the bag. He claimed that at the same time, another superintendent was beating him. He said he finally gave in and told police that "I shoot the man".

According to Alexis, the superintendent who had placed the bag over his head had previously told him what to say. Alexis said that he was in pain. When he finally got the attention of officers, they called an ambulance, he said.

Mario Gray represented Alexis.

Abigail Farrington appeared for the Crown.

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