Philly teen guilty of killing boy for dirt bike

PHILADELPHIA A Philadelphia teenager was convicted of first-degree murder Tuesday for killing a 16-year-old boy to steal his dirt bike. The verdict against Eric Smith, 18, carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no parole. He is to be formally sentenced Oct. 24 for killing Luis Navarro last year. ¡°He¡¯s lucky - he deserves more than that because I will never see my son again,¡± said the victim¡¯s father, also named Luis Navarro. ¡°At least his family can go visit him, wherever he¡¯s at.¡± Navarro¡¯s parents had given him the $3,000 motorbike a week before the killing for his birthday, prosecutors said. Assistant District Attorney Jennifer C. Selber said Smith bragged to friends that he had killed someone on the trails in Tacony Creek Park. Defense lawyer Daniel A. Rendine told jurors that they couldn¡¯t be sure Smith killed Navarro because the evidence was statements given by Smith¡¯s friends. Rendine said detectives lied to those friends, telling each that Smith had tried to blame him.