A jury yesterday convicted an East Hills man in a 2004 double homicide and kidnapping in Lincoln-Lemington in which police didn't locate a teenage victim's body for five days.

Jaurvon Hopkins, 26, was found guilty of abducting and killing James R. Jones, 26, of Wilkinsburg, and Shawnte Betts, 17, of Beltzhoover, in July near Lincoln and Lemington avenues.

After several hours of deliberation, the jury convicted him of two counts each of second-degree murder, kidnapping, unlawful restraint and conspiracy.

The other defendant in the slayings, Lester Johnson of Garfield, was convicted in a separate trial. The jury deadlocked on the death penalty and he was sentenced to back-to-back life sentences for two counts each of first-degree murder, unlawful restraint, kidnapping and conspiracy.

Both men were tried before Common Pleas Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski.

Tiffanee Smith, 41, the slain girl's mother, sat through every day of both homicide trials. She said after the verdict yesterday, "I believe in 'an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' If you take someone's life you should give yours up. I do feel for his mom. But my daughter is gone."

Daniel Fitzsimmons, chief trial deputy for the Allegheny district attorney's office, said it was the correct verdict.

He said Mr. Johnson was "more of a principal actor in the case" whereas Mr. Hopkins was "more of an accomplice."

Mr. Jones was found dead in the back of a car used in the abduction; Ms. Betts' body was discovered five days later in a wooded area of Wilkinsburg.

Sentencing is set for Feb. 17.

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