Norman Tyrell Cates, 18, was convicted Thursday by a state District Court jury in Tucumcari of first-degree murder in the Dec. 20, 2004, slaying of 65-year-old Lena Barrett, The Associated Press is reporting on its broadcast wire (story found on KVIA-TV's Web site out of El Paso).

Cates, who was 17 at the time of the killing, was tried on a change of venue from Harding County, as we reported on this site Monday. He was acquitted of aggravated burglary and evidence-tampering charges, the AP reported.

According to prosecutors, Barrett was beaten, strangled and stabbed 28 times with a steak knife, the AP reported.

State District Judge Kevin Sweazea of Estancia, who presided over the brief trial, ordered a presentence report on Cates which is expected to take up to five weeks, according to AP.

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