FORMER WIFE WON’T FACE DEATH PENALTY
TENN.» The ex-wife of former MEMPHIS, NBA player Lorenzen Wright won’t face the death penalty if convicted of killing him more than seven years ago in Tennessee, a prosecutor said Monday.
Prosecutor Paul Hagerman told a judge during a hearing that Sherra Wright won’t face a death sentence if found guilty of first-degree murder in her ex-husband’s shooting death. She is being held without bond and has pleaded not guilty in one of the most high-profile murder cases in Memphis’ history.
Sherra Wright was arrested in December in Riverside County, Calif., on a fugitive from justice warrant. Lorenzen Wright’s decomposing body was found in a swampy field on July 28, 2010 — 10 days after he was reported missing.
The 6-foot-11 Wright died of multiple gunshot wounds. An autopsy report showed bullet fragments were lodged in Wright’s skull, chest and right forearm.
Hagerman said another person charged with first-degree murder in the case, Billy Ray Turner, also won’t face death if convicted at trial. Turner, a landscaper in the Memphis suburb of Collierville, and Sherra Wright attended the same church. Turner also is being held without bond, and he also has pleaded not guilty.
Shiffrin tops prize money at $738K.
SWEDEN» Mikaela Shiffrin topped ARE, the skiing World Cup prize money list after winning 12 races in the season and retained her women’s overall title.
The International Ski Federation said the EagleVail star earned $738,000.
Lindsey Vonn earned $277,000, including five first-place prizes. She was fifth overall on the list.
Men’s overall champion Marcel Hirscher of Austria, who won 13 World Cup races, was second with prize earnings of almost $703,000.
English returns to UNC football.
GREELEY» Marty English is returning to Northern Colorado’s football team as its defensive coordinator and linebackers coach after serving as Colorado State’s defensive coordinator the past two seasons.
This is English’s second tenure with the Bears. His coaching career began at his alma mater as a graduate assistant in 1987 and has coached in Greeley for 16 years that included three as the defensive coordinator from 2000-02.
English played for the Bears from 1982-85, earning all-North Central Conference honors at linebacker his senior season.
Spieth now a foe of Reed’s.
TEXAS» Jordan Spieth and AUSTIN,
Patrick Reed will go from being teammates to opponents in match play.
Spieth and Reed have a 7-2-2 record as partners in two Ryder Cups and last year’s Presidents Cup. They were drawn in the same four-man group for the Dell Technologies Match Play, which starts Wednesday at Austin Country Club.
Dustin Johnson is the No. 1 seed. Also in his group is Kevin Kisner, one of his best friends from junior golf in South Carolina.
N.C. State surges in baseball.
North Carolina State built an impressive first-month record against a soft nonconference schedule. The Wolfpack’s first sweep of Clemson in 21 years has pushed them to the national forefront in college baseball.
After being ranked No. 19 or lower a week ago, they were as high as No. 6 in this week’s polls after three weekend wins over the former No. 1 RPI team.
Oregon State (18-1), Florida (18-4) and Stanford (14-2) remained the top three teams in the D1Baseball.com and Baseball America rankings.
Serena draws Indian Wells champ.
FLA.» Naomi Osaka, a KEY BISCAYNE, rising star who won Indian Wells on Sunday, will face Serena Williams in the first round of the Miami Open on Wednesday. — The Associated Press