The stepson of Opposition Leader Kim Swan has been convicted of the premeditated murder of a North Carolina state trooper.

Eduardo Wong Jr. — the son of Mr. Swan's wife Cindy Swan and her first husband, a Chinese mafia member — may now face the death penalty as the sentencing process moves forward in Newton, North Carolina.

Wong, 40, admitted killing 24-year-old trooper Shawn Blanton Jr. during a 2008 traffic stop, but denied that the shooting was premeditated.

However, after a six-week trial and 4½ hours of deliberation, a jury of six men and six women declared Wong guilty.

Wong was also found guilty of attempted murder, armed robbery, three counts of possessing a firearm as a felon and two counts of possessing drugs with intent to sell and deliver.

Mrs. Swan told The Royal Gazette that she had been estranged from her son since she left his father when Wong Jr. was 12.

Mrs. Swan had two other children, a son and a daughter, with Wong Sr. Their daughter is a doctor in the United States, while her son is a teacher in Japan.

She added that UBP leader Mr. Swan had only met Wong Jr. once.

"He was raised by his father," she said. "I'm very hurt and disappointed because of the situation.

"He is my child. I feel what any mother would go through. It is a painful and sad situation."

Mrs. Swan met Wong Sr. as a teenager in Belize, and said she did not know about his illegal activity until after their divorce.

In 1994, Wong Sr. was stabbed to death in an Atlanta federal prison in what criminal justice consultant W.T. Gaut described as a "five swords" execution ordered by Triad bosses.

In a deposition recorded by Mrs. Swan, she recalled an incident in which Wong Jr. fell from the fifth story of an apartment building.

She said Wong Sr. refused to have his son psychologically evaluated, claiming that his family would not accept mental illness.

Wong's defence attorney Mark Melrose used the evidence of a neuropsychologist to try and show that his client suffered a brain injury that causes him to react irrationally.

On June 14, 2008, Mr. Blanton stopped Wong Jr. in a routine traffic stop.

The front-mounted camera attached to the patrol car recorded the sounds of gunfire, followed by Mr. Blanton screaming and pleading with Wong Jr. not to shoot again.

Mr. Blanton's state-issued gun, along with two other guns, 11 ounces of marijuana and 57 tablets of ecstasy were later found in Wong's truck.

Sentencing hearing for Wong Jr. began on Friday with an emotional statement from David Blanton, the father of the murdered trooper.

Yesterday, Florida court officials spoke in the Catawba County courtroom, detailing Wong's criminal history in that state, which includes an escape attempt.

Prosecutors and defence attorneys believe it could be two to four weeks before a sentence is reached. According to North Carolina Law, all 12 jurors would have to vote in favour of the death penalty for Wong to be executed.