Haugabook convicted, sentenced to life for Chinese delivery driver murder

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A 23-year-old man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after a New Hanover County jury convicted him man on all counts in the murder of a Chinese delivery driver three years ago.

The jury found Cornell Haugabook, Jr., guilty of first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Haugabook was one of six men charged in connection with the June 2012 murder of Zhen Bo Liu, 60, who was shot, killed and robbed while delivering food for China King restaurant in the 700 block of Queen Street.

Haugabook did not face the death penalty after a judge ruled in February that Haugabook is legally retarded and cannot be sentenced to death.

Family and friends of haugabook filled an afternoon courtroom for his sentencing including two of the other men convicted in this crime.

Public defender Jennifer Harjo asked the judge to give Haugabook life in prison instead of life without parole.

The judge said while he agreed with her, by law, life without parole was required. The judge also told Haugabook he did not see him show any remorse through the trial. District Attorney Ben David said that is because the jury convicted Haugabook of premeditated first degree murder instead of felony murder.

“This is far worse than that,” David said. “This defendant was found to have the specific intent to kill before he fired that gun that obviously projected a bullet into the face of Mr. Liu.”

Haugabook’s family friend Lular Best-Herring said it was hard to hear.

“It hurt me,” Best-Herring said. “It hurt me, but I believe that you suffer the consequences.”

Best-Herring said they have to try to move on with their lives and help Haugabook through his.

“It was a wrong thing, so we can’t do anything about it,” Best-herring said. “He got the sentencing and we can just try to help him through it and through life. That’s all we have to do.”

The state attorney in this case also read an emotional letter to the courtroom from Liu’s son. It said Liu was a good father and husband. Liu was making money to send to his family back home in china. His son also said Liu told them he was home sick and ready to see them the night before he was gunned down.

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