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Crime & Safety

Man Sentenced to Life For Greenwich Body Dumping Pot-Slay

Larry Corbett, also known as "China Man," of Bridgeport, sentenced to life for murdering alleged Jamaican drug dealer from the Bronx and dumping his body on Sterling Road.

A former Bridgeport man who was convicted of kidnapping and murdering an alleged Jamaican drug dealer and dumping his body in the woods in north Greenwich has been sentenced to life in prison.

Larry Corbett, also known as “China Man,” 39, of Bridgeport, was reportedly sentenced Tuesday by United States District Judge Christopher F. Droney in Hartford for the January 2008 kidnapping and murder of George McPherson of the Bronx, New York.

Corbett was indicted in February 2010 in the death of McPherson; and Judge Droney found him guilty of murder in May 2011, after a three-week trial.

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Greenwich Police reportedly played a critical role in the investigation, particularly in gathering evidence at the crime scene. McPherson’s body was disposed of on Sterling Road.

In addition video from a Greenwich resident’s home security system that caught Corbett’s minivan turning around in the area where the body was disposed served as a key piece of evidence.

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“Today, a murderer has been removed from society for the remainder of his life,” said David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, in a statement. “I commend all who were involved in the investigation of this matter, including the Greenwich Police Department, DEA, New York Police Department and Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, whose coordinated efforts resulted in the quick identification and apprehension of this defendant. I also would like to thank the Stamford/Norwalk State’s Attorney’s Office for its partnership in the successful prosecution of this matter."

According to court documents, Corbett had been buying large quantities of marijuana from McPherson for a period of time leading up to the murder. On January 14, 2008, Corbett arranged to buy 27 pounds of marijuana from McPherson. This time, however, Corbett had planned to rob McPherson of the marijuana, and had brought along an associate to help, prosecutors said.

During the robbery, Corbett shot McPherson with a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun and killed him, court papers state. The pair then allegedly dumped McPherson’s body in Greenwich.

Corbett reportedly has maintained that he didn't murder McPherson — he claims that McPherson was shot by an unknown person who had stepped in unexpectedly and caused the drug deal to go bad.

Police have not yet identified the other individual who may have assisted Corbett, who was a resident of the Bronx NY at the time the murder took place.

According to court documents, a video captured on a private security system showed Corbett’s green minivan driving away from the scene where the body was dumped.

In addition swabs of bloodstains from Corbett’s minivan, which was recovered, contained McPherson’s DNA.

Corbett has been detained since his arrest by the Greenwich Police Department on January 29, 2008.

Corbett was found guilty of one count of kidnapping resulting in death, and one count of causing a death through the use of a firearm in perpetration of a robbery (felony murder), according to the statement. He received a mandatory term of imprisonment of life on each of these counts. He was also was found guilty of one count of interference with commerce through the use of violence, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and one count of use of a firearm during and in relation to a narcotics trafficking offense.

Corbett received concurrent prison terms of 240 months and 60 months on the interference with commerce and marijuana counts, respectively, and a mandatory consecutive 10-year prison term on the firearm count.

Expert testimony regarding DNA analysis was provided by the CT Forensic Science Laboratory.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney H. Gordon Hall and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Maureen Ornousky, who has been cross-designated as a Special Assistant United States Attorney.

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