PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A woman convicted of murdering a man on Christmas Day in 2022 was sentenced to 26 years.
On Nov. 9, 2023, Ramya Stewart was found guilty of the first degree murder of 33-year-old Johnnie Freeman. She was also convicted on charges of use of a firearm in commission of a felony and shooting in the commission of a felony.
During the trial, the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney presented evidence that
Freeman attended a holiday party held at Stewart’s home the night of the murder. While inside the home, Freeman became involved in an incident with Stewart and her relative.
Court documents show that Freeman was standing outside with his girlfriend when Stewart came outside and shot Freeman in the head from her porch. Freeman was pronounced deceased at the scene.
For the first degree murder conviction, Stewart was sentenced to 25 years with two years suspended and two years of supervised probation after her release.
She was sentenced to an addition three years for use of a firearm in commission of a felony conviction. The five year sentence for shooting in the commission of a felony conviction was suspended with six months of supervised probation upon release.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Joyce Weddle and Deputy
Commonwealth’s Attorney Lynnette Hill.
