NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A Norfolk man already convicted of two murders will soon find out if he’s guilty of a third.
Cola Beale has admitted to killing his cousin Downing McLean, but his attorney says this is a case of manslaughter and not murder. The jury saw the police interrogation of Beale, first by Virginia Beach detectives, and then Norfolk detectives.
Beale was convicted two months ago in the March 2022 murders in Virginia Beach of his girlfriend Czavi’er Hill and the man he considered his father, Clifton Baxter.
Testimony in court indicated that McLean was present at both of those killings. Beale told investigators he killed his cousin just days later during an argument at an apartment on Sewells Point Road.
Beale claimed that McLean wanted Beale to kill someone on his behalf. But Beale refused and told McLean “don’t put me in the middle of your s***.”
Beale said McLean kept yelling and was acting crazy and belligerent. That’s when Beale shot McLean once in the mouth and then a second time in the back. The shot to the back would have been fatal, according to a forensic pathologist who testified.
“He was talking to me like I was a b****,” Beale told investigators. “I killed him straight up.”
Evidence from the scene included 9 mm shell casings and a bullet that matched a gun that belonged to Beale, as well as several tooth fragments.
The Commonwealth has rested, and the defense does not plan to call any witnesses, meaning Beale will not testify on his own behalf. The defense tried to have the case converted to a manslaughter charge, but was denied.
The jury should get the case sometime before noon Wednesday.
Cola Beale IV is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of his cousin, Downing McLean. Beale could face up to life in prison if found guilty. The trial starts at 9:30 a.m.
On March 28, 2022, Norfolk Police found 32-year-old McLean dead inside a home on Sewells Point Road. Police said McLean had multiple gunshot wounds.
After his death, 10 On Your Side spoke to McLean’s sister, Ashley.
“They grew up together. My aunt, who is [Beale’s] mother, we would all have cookouts and gatherings, and things of that sort, they were always together,” said Ashley in 2022.
At the time, she said her brother never spoke to her about fearing Beale.
“He trusted him, just like a brother,” Ashley said in 2022. “That’s why it’s so hard to believe, and so shocking. It’s just a hard burden to swallow.”
Days before McLean’s death, Beale shot and killed his girlfriend, 31-year-old Czavi’er Hill, in Virginia Beach. He then set her home on fire with her and her dog inside. Just one day later, Beale’s father figure, 73-year-old Clifton Baxter, was found dead from a gunshot wound.
In April 2022, in a jail interview, Beale admitted to the murders. At the time of the interview he said he had no remorse for what happened.
“Each person had a different reason why I did it. It wasn’t like I just woke up and said ‘I’m going to kill my girlfriend,’” Beale said in 2022.
In March 20, 2024, a Virginia Beach jury found Beale guilty of two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of arson, abduction, torturing an animal causing death and gun charges. It took the jury of six women and six men about an hour to deliberate before reaching that verdict.
Following that verdict, Beale did a second interview with 10 On Your Side.
“I definitely apologize for everything that happened, but I know what happened,” he said. “The apology is not enough,” he said. “Justice was served.”
Beale is scheduled to be sentenced for the Virginia Beach murders July 2.