Brittany Norwood Gets Life Sentence for cutting, stabbing, and bludgeoning which lead to the eventual Murder of Blonde Beauty Jayna Murray after random bag check at Lululemon Yoga Store.

Brittany Norwood

ROCKVILLE, Md. – A woman convicted of killing her co-worker at an upscale yoga clothing shop in the Washington suburbs, then spinning an elaborate lie about being attacked by two masked men, was ordered Friday to spend the rest of her life behind bars.

A judge sentenced Brittany Norwood, 29, to life in prison without parole, rejecting defense pleas that she deserved an eventual shot at rehabilitation and freedom.

Dressed in a pink blouse, a black blazer and a pearl necklace, Norwood stood and addressed the Murray family, seated in the second row of a packed courtroom.

She haltingly started her statement by saying she had considered whether she should say anything at all.

“For the Murray family – what do I say when your daughter’s gone and I’m the one convicted of her murder? I know what I say today won’t take the pain away over the loss of Jayna,” she said.

Norwood said she was “deeply sorry” for the March 11 crime, during which prosecutors say she cut, stabbed, and bludgeoned her co-worker Jayna Murray, 30, more than 330 times in downtown Bethesda’s Lululemon shop.

“I hope for the Murray family, someday you’ll be able to find forgiveness in your heart,” she said. “I am truly sorry.”

The sentence capped an afternoon of emotional testimony and marked the end of a murder case that rocked the Bethesda community. Prosecutors say Norwood doctored the crime scene at the shop and lied to police, saying the two women were attacked and sexually assaulted by two masked men – leaving the Bethesda community in fear. But Norwood’s tale quickly unraveled, and she was arrested and charged with the murder less than a week later.more

thank you Jason

Here’s how the story unfolded:

March 12: Montgomery County Police are called to the scene of the Lululemon Athletica store around 8:12 a.m. where they find the body of Jayna Murray and her surviving co-worker Brittany Norwood, after what they thought was a robbery turned brutal attack and homicide.

Residents and Bethesda Row shoppers are shocked by reports. Kristie Donohue, manager of J. McLaughlin, a boutique across the street from Lululemon, tells Patch: “This is an area I would never have expected this to happen. Period. I just think we’ve always felt so safe. It’s something we’ve taken for granted. Maybe this is an eye-opener that we have to be more aware.”

March 13—17: As Murray’s family mourns her death, police continue to investigate her homicide and Norwood’s apparent assault. The community plans to remember Murray with a vigil and a memorial foundation is set up in her name as business owners look into safety measures for the popular urban district.

March 18: On the evening of Murray’s vigil, police announce the arrest of Norwood, who they say was initially considered to be the surviving victim of an alleged attack at the shop. The victim-turned-suspect is charged with first-degree murder.

March 21: Norwood appears via closed-circuit television in court where prosecutors say her story was ‘inconsistent’ and recall how the evidence pointed towards her. They say Norwood elaborately staged the crime scene and lied to police to cover up the crime. They say Murray discovered Norwood attempting to steal from the shop the night of the crime, a possible motive. She is ordered toremain in custody without bond.

March 24—28: Patch reports that Norwood is not eligible for the death penalty. She retains a private attorney.

April 14: Norwood’s preliminary hearing is postponed.

May 5: A grand jury indicts Norwood for the March 11 murder of Jayna Murray.

PHOTOS: Evidence Used By Prosecution In the Lululemon Trial

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Jayna Murray

Autopsy indicates Jayna Murray was alive during beating at lululemon store

Jayna Murray was alive during the beating that left her skull cracked in multiple places, and she died later of a stab wound to the base of her brain, a medical examiner testified today during the trial of Brittany Norwood, who is charged with first-degree murder in Murray’s death.

Dr. Mary Ripple of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore said Murray had at least 331 wounds to her body.

“That’s conservative, there were probably more than that,’’ Ripple said.

Ripple said blunt-force trauma, stabbing and cutting injuries to Murray’s body overlapped in several areas, making it difficult to count the exact number of injuries.

State’s Attorney John McCarthy is being permitted by the judge to show nine photos from Ripple’s autopsy report. McCarthy originally intended to show all 37 photos from the autopsy, but the judge ruled many of the photos too prejudicial.

One of the photos shows how a blunt weapon pulled Murray’s scalp from her skull. Ripple said she believed Murray lived through most of the attack, because there was blood and bruising around the injuries, which can only happen when the heart is beating. Bruising was also detected deep into Murray’s brain.

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