LEXINGTON — Jurors convicted Shane Ragland of murder Wednesday in the 1994 sniper-style slaying of a University of Kentucky football player, then recommended a sentence of 30 years. The crime had gone without an arrest for more than five years.

        The Fayette Circuit Court jury deliberated about 5 1/2 hours before returning the guilty verdict. Sentencing deliberations took about an hour.

Shane Ragland

        Mr. Ragland, who faced a sentence as stiff as life without parole for 25 years, would be eligible for parole after serving 12 years if Judge Thomas Clark follows the jury's recommendation when Mr. Ragland is sentenced April 26.

        Mr. Ragland showed no emotion when the verdict and sentencing recommendation were read but nodded and winked at his father, Frankfort businessman Jerry Ragland, as he stood to leave the courtroom. The conviction brought a teary outburst from his mother, Kathy Ragland.

        Defense lawyer William Johnson of Frankfort said he planned to appeal, possibly on the grounds that the trial should have been moved because of pretrial publicity.

        “Shane's doing well,” Mr. Johnson said. “He's obviously disappointed and concerned, but he's optimistic about the possibility of an appeal.”

        Mr. Ragland, 28, of Frankfort, was convicted of shooting Trent DiGiuro, an offensive lineman and honor student, as Mr. DiGiuro celebrated his 21st birthday with friends on the front porch of his Lexington home July 17, 1994.

        The crime went without an arrest until Mr. Ragland's former girlfriend, Aimee Lloyd, told police in January 2000 that he had admitted to her back in 1995 that he had killed Mr. DiGiuro.

        “This case has taken many, many years of hard police work and has taken a lot of effort to get to the point we did tonight,” Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Larson said. “We're pleased.”

        Earlier, Mr. Larson urged the jury, “Don't let Trent DiGiuro and his lost future be forgotten.

        “You just can't describe the impact this will have on the DiGiuro family for the rest of their lives.”

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