Man convicted in 2020 Albany murder

An Albany man was found guilty of murder on Wednesday, for fatally stabbing another 22-year-old man in March 2020.

Darius Cokely was tried for murder over the past week. A jury comprised of eight men and four women found Cokely guilty for stabbing Maurice Skeen during a brawl outside his home on 550 Madison Avenue.

Maurice’s grandmother, Tracy Coleman pushed through tears to explain what it was like testifying in court. “It was like reliving it all over again, videos, me seeing my grandson alive for the last time that was the last time,” she said.

Her grandson was just 22 years old. She tells me the fight that took his life was sparked by comments on social media. A situation that had nothing to do with him. She says a group of people kept coming to her house to fight. “I told Albany police this. I said they ‘ve been back twice, they’re coming back, just please don’t leave,” she cried.

She says police left and when the group came back Maurice stepped in to protect his family. “It just went crazy after that. All Maurice wanted, was for these people, to leave, and that’s all he kept saying was take it away from my grandmother’s house,” she explained.

Today in court a jury found Darius Cokely guilty of stabbing Maurice Skeen in that brawl.

Cokely now faces up to 25 years to life in prison when he’s sentenced in January.