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Jury sentences son of former NBA player Van Exel to 60 years

Nickey Van Exel, the son of former NBA player Nick Van Exel, was found guilty of murder by a jury in Texas, and on Friday he was sentenced to 60 years in jail.

The guilty verdict had been delivered Thursday night after 2 1/2 hours of deliberation, and deliberation on sentencing began Friday. Prosecutors had been seeking the death penalty in the capital case.

Van Exel, 22, fatally shot Bradley Bassey Eyo, a longtime friend, in December 2010 at Van Exel's home and then dumped the body in a lake outside of Dallas.

Van Exel's attorneys argued that the two were playing around when the shotgun fired accidentally. But evidence was presented that Van Exel wrapped the body and disposed of it, and then threw the gun in a creek.

Nick Van Exel, who played 13 seasons as a point guard in the NBA, is currently a player development instructor with the Atlanta Hawks.