A Maxton man who raped and killed his 69-year-old grandmother in 2005 has lost an appeal challenging his conviction.
James Junior Blue, 33, was found guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree rape and armed robbery in the death of Shirley Locklear. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Prosecutors said that Blue became angry when his grandmother refused to lend him money. He hit Locklear with a piece of wood and a cooking pot, choked her with a cord from a tape recorder and then raped her.
