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Two teens accuse each other of killing veteran, 87

Just 80 minutes before 87-year-old World War II veteran George Greaves was shot to death last August while working on his front lawn in Cedarbrook, the two teens charged in his slaying robbed a woman at gunpoint nearby, detectives testified Wednesday.

Just 80 minutes before 87-year-old World War II veteran George Greaves was shot to death last August while working on his front lawn in Cedarbrook, the two teens charged in his slaying robbed a woman at gunpoint nearby, detectives testified Wednesday.

The alleged admissions of India Spellman, 17, and Von Combs, 14, were read during their preliminary hearing in Municipal Court where both were held for trial on murder, robbery, and related charges by Judge Teresa Carr Deni.

Their statements - each was questioned by detectives with a parent's consent - were almost identical, except that each accused the other of shooting Greaves on Aug. 22, 2010.

"I'm sorry for the man getting killed," Spellman said in a statement read to Deni by Homicide Detective Henry J. Glenn.

According to the statement, Spellman said Combs spotted Greaves resting on the driveway of his property at Pickering Avenue and Phil-Ellena Street. Spellman said Combs asked for her gun, walked over to Greaves, and demanded money.

Instead, Greaves, a former Seabee who relatives said was a lifelong body builder and fitness enthusiast, objected and pushed Combs. Combs shot Greaves in the chest, Spellman said.

"He said he shot him because the man disrespected him, for pushing him," related Spellman, according to Glenn.

Combs' statement, read to the judge by Detective Ohmarr P. Jenkins, alleged that Spellman first spotted Greaves, then turned to Combs and said, "I'm about to do this."

Combs' statement alleges that Spellman confronted Greaves, said "Give it up," and shot when he resisted.

Combs said Spellman was aggressive and acting out of character that day, according to Jenkins.

Earlier in the hearing, Shirley Phillips testified how she was walking on Rugby Street to catch a bus when the two teens approached her, and Spellman, at gunpoint, took her purse and then fled.

Spellman's attorney, Harry R. Seay, challenged the identification of his client, noting that a witness described the teenage girl as being a dark-skinned African American.

Combs' attorney, Stephen Gross, questioned if Combs' mother understood the implications of letting her son talk to detectives.

Both defendants - Spellman has no criminal record and Combs has a minor juvenile offense - sat calmly during the hearing and did not seem to try to talk to each other.

Though each is too young to face the death penalty if found guilty of first-degree murder, both would face mandatory life terms without parole if found guilty of first- or second-degree murder.

Assistant District Attorney Jacqueline Juliano Coelho would not say how detectives were led to arrest the pair.

No gun was recovered, Coelho said afterward, although a bullet was recovered during the autopsy of Greaves.

According to testimony Wednesday, Phillips' cell phone was recovered from another teen who was apparently a friend of one or both of the defendants.