Jamal Trulove was convicted on first-degree murder Tuesday for killing a man following a brief stint on VH1's I Love New York reality dating series in 2007.
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The convictions were largely based on the testimony of an eyewitness who said she was "100 percent" sure Trulove was the gunman that killed Kuka, according to the Chronicle.
While authorities had been searching for Trulove for three months after Kuka's murder, he was subsequently identified by the eyewitness who recognized him when he appeared on I Love New York's second-season premiere in October 2007.
Trulove was one of five suitors selected to appear on I Love New York's second season via online voting at VH1's website, and his brief appearance was memorable since he got into a heated verbal argument with another one of Pollard's suitors.
Although the eyewitness contacted authorities shortly after seeing the episode, Trulove wasn't found until a year later when a San Francisco Police Department gang task force investigator spotted the former reality contestant while vacationing in Monterey -- leading to his October 2008 arrest.
During Trulove's trial, the witness stated that about 25 people saw the incident, but she was the only one who testified, according to the Chronicle, which added she is now in a witness protection program.
"She was terrified to do what she did, but she did it anyway," prosecutor Linda Allen told the Chronicle about the witness.
A jury deliberated four days before convicting Trulove, who will be sentence March 19. He faces 50 years to life in a state prison.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio
