'They destroyed my name': 'Welcome to Sweetie Pie' star Tim Norman denies killing nephew Andre Montgomery Jr
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI: On February 23, former 'Welcome to Sweetie Pie' actor Tim Norman posted a statement on Instagram claiming his innocence. Tim was convicted in September for allegedly arranging the 2016 assassination of his 21-year-old nephew Andre Montgomery in St Louis, Missouri.
The pair were heavily featured in the reality program, which aired on OWN for nine seasons. It tracked Robbie Montgomery — Tim's mother and Andre's grandmother — and those who helped her operate a series of Sweetie Pie's soul-food eateries in the area. Sweetie Pie's, the world-famous restaurant pulled its doors for good after Tim was found guilty of orchestrating his nephew's murder. Its other nearby sites, including one in Texas, were earlier closed too. Ms Robbie Montgomery, the food joint's proprietor, went on Instagram last September to thank her fans and announce that the last spot would be shutting its doors.
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Tim Norman found guilty in murder-for-hire plot
A jury found James "Tim" Norman guilty of two charges of federal murder-for-hire and one count of conspiracy to conduct wire and postal fraud. Tim, the panel decided, hired two individuals to murder Andre Montgomery, 21, on March 14, 2016. They determined Tim subsequently attempted to cash a $450,000 life insurance policy purchased for his nephew months earlier. The prosecution claimed Tim gave a $10,000 bribe to an exotic dancer to entice Andre to the murder location. They also claimed Tim paid another individual $5,000 to murder Andre. The accused shooter and the performer both testified against the reality TV personality.
Tim Norman maintains innocence
On Thursday, February 23, the 'Welcome to Sweetie Pie's actor shared a message on Instagram expressing his thoughts on the case decision and claiming his innocence. Tim's Instagram caption read, "#innocent." "Thank you for all the prayers. I’m still in disbelief. The feds know 100% I did not do those insurance policies," he added. "But the jury didn’t get to hear that. And not one person got on the stand and said that I told them to hurt my nephew. They destroyed my name and image so you guys wouldn’t search for the truth."
Tim stated tearfully that he had only requested assistance in locating his nephew in order to question him about a burglary at his mother's home, according to the St Louis Dispatch. Andre was said to have fled St Louis after his aunt's home was stolen of $220,000 in jewels and cash in June 2015. Tim claimed he wished to question his nephew about the break-in, and witnesses said the two were close. Travell Hill reportedly shot Andre several times, killing him.
In his concluding arguments, Tim's defense counsel, Michael Leonard, claimed that Travell confessed to using heavy drugs and was "hopped up on drugs" on the day of Andre's death.