(Image: Hanover Sheriff's Office)
Navy Lt. Junior Grade Emmanuel Dewayne Coble tried to defend himself in court even suggesting that attorneys and police were colluding against him but the courts saw through this and he was eventually found guilty
A naval officer has been found guilty of killing his pregnant girlfriend after she refused to have an abortion and wanted to keep the baby.
The body of Virginia woman Raquiah Paulette King, 20, was found by the side of a road on July 21 2022. Investigations quickly led to Navy Lt. Junior Grade Emmanuel Dewayne Coble, 27, and he was arrested on August 11 that same year.
Coble eventually confessed to the fatal shooting of Raquiah and the subsequent disposal of her body in the forest, yet he claims it occurred unintentionally.
According to reports, prosecutors argue that Coble took Raquiah to an abortion clinic, which she left without undergoing the procedure, choosing instead to keep the baby.
Before her tragic end, Raquiah ominously informed her mother to look at Coble if anything ever befell her. Gregory King mournfully reflected on his daughter’s life, stating: “She was a ray of sunlight she was fun, beautiful courageous and strong,” and adding, “I’m just grateful for everything.”
Before and during the trial Coble tried to delay the process. Before facing trial, Coble indecisively shuffled between various attorneys and self-representation, but eventually chose to represent himself once proceedings began, per WTVR. He took charge at his trial, handling tasks such as jury selection, delivering an opening statement, and interrogating numerous witnesses himself.
He even suggested that attorneys and police were colluding against him, according to WTVR. Coble’s antics did not go unnoticed; even the presiding judge from Hanover County criticized him for attempting to game the system – pointing out his efforts to manipulate both court and jury.
“He used lots of delay tactics, continuances to keep this case going and drew it out so it took a lot to bring this case across the finish line,” recounted Hanover Commonwealth’s Attorney Mackenzie Babichenko following the trial, as stated by WTVR.
Raquiah’s brother felt relief when the guilty verdict came through. “To know that that guy thought he was going to get away with it, it just feels good,” expressed Raquiah’s brother, Gregory King, responding to the verdict, as reported by Richmond CBS affiliate WTVR. “It puts icing on the cake.”
