Latest news with #lifeSentence
France 24
3 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
Lebanese militant says 'struggle' helped him endure French prison
A court last week ordered the 74-year-old -- who was jailed over the 1982 killings of two foreign diplomats in Paris -- be released from the Lannemezan prison in southern France on Friday. Abdallah is one of the longest-serving prisoners in France, where most convicts with life sentences are freed after less than 30 years. Between his bed, desk and microwave corner, Abdallah had decorated the yellow walls of his 11-square-metre cell with the flag of the Argentine Marxist revolutionary, but also a map of the world and postcards. An office chair near his bed was piled high with newspapers. "If I'm alive in front of you today, it's because I've kept up the fight -- otherwise 40 years (in jail) would turn your brain to mush," said the prisoner, whose hair and beard have turned grey. AFP visited his cell on July 17, along with a hard-left member of parliament, Andree Taurinya, who used her right as a lawmaker to visit detention centres to see him on the day the court ordered his release. Dressed in a red sleeveless t-shirt and beige shorts, he greeted her warmly and they posed together for a selfie. Abdallah said that for more than 40 years he had continued to be a "militant with a struggle" -- even if it was in very "particular" conditions behind bars. He said he did not foresee a "radical change in (his) struggle outlook" after leaving France and flying home to Lebanon -- the condition for his release. Birthday calendar Next to his computer, he had pinned up images of flowers, including poppies and cherry blossom, as well as Palestinian flags and a picture of the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem. "Forty years is a lot but you don't feel them go by when you keep up the struggle," he said. Many of his fellow militants have died over the years however, he said. "On my computer I have a calendar to keep track of every day: dead comrades, that's in brown, orange is for visits, and green is for birthdays," he explained. But these days, "the colour brown is taking up more and more space." Abdallah was detained in 1984 and sentenced to life in prison in 1987 for his involvement, which he denies, in the murders of US military attache Charles Robert Ray and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov in Paris. After his arrest, French police discovered submachine guns and transceiver stations in one of his Paris apartments. 'Pampered' Lebanese of Maronite Christian heritage, Abdallah has always insisted he is a "fighter" who battled for the rights of Palestinians, and not a "criminal". Before the decision to release him, he had been eligible for release for 25 years. But the United States -- a civil party to the case -- had consistently opposed him leaving prison. The Israeli embassy in Paris objected to the decision to release Abdallah, saying "such terrorists, enemies of the free world, should spend their life in prison". Abdallah, who considers himself to be a "political prisoner", said he had been "pampered" compared to "what is going on in Gaza and the West Bank, especially for comrades in prison". His release comes as Israel wages war against Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip for a 22nd month, with aid and rights groups warning of mass starvation for civilians trapped in the besieged Palestinian territory. Deadly Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have also become commonplace. Abdallah, who founded a now dissolved Marxist anti-Israel militant group in his youth, endorsed recent protests in the West calling for a Gaza ceasefire. © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Yahoo
Man sentenced to life in prison for killing 83-year-old man in Fayette County
A man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing an 83-year-old man in Fayette County The Fayette County District Attorney's Office announced Friday that Norman Pennington, 67, had been convicted of first-degree murder in the killing of Anthony DiCenzo in April 2024 in German Township. Pennington was immediately handed a life sentence without the possibility of parole, officials say. 'We appreciate the outstanding work of the numerous (state police) troopers and other law enforcement personnel who participated in bringing justice to Tony's family today,' officials say. Pennington was arrested days after DiCenzo, formerly of Brownsville, was found shot to death inside his car, several hours after he was reported missing. He was on his way to look at real estate properties. Upon the arrest, investigators said Pennington and DiCenzo were longtime friends and were looking to do a business deal and buy a bar together. 'The victim was upset about $30,000 he gave to Mr. Pennington to purchase a property for which Mr. Pennington never acted upon,' Fayette County DA Mike Aubele said at the time. 'Mr. Pennington essentially admitting he was swindling Mr. DiCenzo out of the money and he was confronting him about that money.' >>> Fayette County DA determined to solve murder of 83-year-old man <<< Police said Pennington confessed, but said he did it out of self-defense. Aubele said there was no evidence of a struggle at the scene. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Irish Times
11-07-2025
- Irish Times
Teenager says man convicted of murdering her father ‘deserves every second' of his life sentence
A teenage girl whose father died after being struck with a samurai sword has told a court his murderer 'deserves every second' of his life sentence. Dylan Scannell, of O'Rahilly Street, Cobh, Co Cork , was sentenced to life imprisonment at a sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Cork on Friday for the murder of Ian Baitson (33). The tattoo artist (31) was last month found guilty by a jury after a weeklong trial of murdering the father of two. Jurors heard that Scannell struck Mr Baitson, who owed him a small drug debt, behind the left knee with the sword in the Eurospar car park on Newtown Road, Cobh on March 15th, 2024. Mr Baitson was rushed to hospital to have emergency surgery but died four days later. In a victim impact statement, Zoey Baitson (14) said her father had turned his life around before his death after a period of drug taking. 'We got very close after that. I was so happy to have my Daddy back to his normal self,' she said. 'In March 2024, we all celebrated my younger brother's birthday. Daddy was so happy. Then a few days later we got a call saying my father had been attacked. My heart broke.' Zoey said it was scary to see her father hooked up to multiple machines in Cork University Hospital's intensive care unit. She said two teddy bears were placed on her father's shoulder as he lay in his hospital bed – one from her and one from her baby brother. 'My heart shattered (when my father died) and I never felt so much pain like this. I would never wish this on anyone. You (Scannell) deserve every second of your sentence.' Sarah Geasley, Mr Baitson's former partner, said he was a kind man and a loving father. She said he was stolen from them in a 'senseless, cruel and violent manner' just four days after celebrating their son's third birthday. Ms Geasley said one of the hardest things she ever had to do was tell her son his father is in heaven. 'He associates stars in the sky now with his Daddy. At night, if and when he sees a bright star, he will say 'Look, look Mammy, there's Daddy',' she added. Scannell, a father of two, expressed remorse for his actions in a letter read to the court by his counsel, Tom Creed, SC, He said he would love to take back what he did that day. The evidence at the trial was that Scannell had previously sent Ian Baitson a text messages in which he threatened to chop off his fingers because of a drug debt, which he claimed had at one point amounted to €2,500. Mr Baitson replied insisting he only owed him a couple of hundred euro. On the night of the attack, Mr Baitson had €185 in his pocket which he planned to give to Scannell. However, the evidence was that he never got the chance to hand over the money as he was attacked when they met. 'Ian was my friend and I will have to carry his cross with me for the rest of my days. It was a dark and dangerous time and it will haunt me for the rest of my life,' he said. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon offered her condolences to the Baitson family and praised the eloquence of their victim impact statements.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Yahoo
Jury votes life in prison for Ronny Walker in 14-year-old girl's murder
TAMPA — The same jury that found Ronny Tremel Walker guilty of murdering 14-year-old Nilexia Alexander decided Friday that he should spend the rest of his life in prison. After a two-day penalty hearing, the panel of five men and seven women discussed the case for a little less than two hours before rejecting a death sentence. Hillsborough Circuit Judge Robin Fuson immediately imposed a life sentence, the only other option. Walker showed no immediate reaction upon hearing the jury's decision, but moments later as he sat at a defense table, he removed his glasses and gazed at the jury. As sheriff's deputies placed him in handcuffs, Walker turned toward Ashley Alexander, Nilexia's mother, who wept in the courtroom gallery. 'I didn't kill your daughter, ma'am,' Walker said. 'I didn't kill your baby.' 'You should have gotten death,' Alexander shouted. Veronica Denson, the daughter of Elaine Caldwell, whom Walker was previously convicted of killing, shouted back at him. 'You're a natural born killer,' Denson said. 'You've been killing for a long time. You just got caught this time.' Sheriff's deputies ushered both women out of the courtroom. In closing arguments Friday afternoon, Walker's defense urged the jury to choose mercy, emphasizing that the guilty verdict this week ensures that he will face retribution. 'Keep in mind, Mr. Walker is severely punished for what he did to Miss Alexander with life in prison without parole,' Assistant Public Defender Carolyn Schlemmer said. 'He will never walk free again.' The jury's decision capped a two-day penalty hearing in which prosecutors focused heavily on Walker's prior conviction for another homicide — a 2003 home invasion robbery in which the victim, Caldwell, was shot in her head. Walker ultimately pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge for that crime and spent several years in prison. He'd been free about six months when Nilexia was killed. She was a troubled teen who'd run away from home, and she wandered one early morning through the Belmont Heights neighborhood. Surveillance cameras recorded footage of a black Ford Fusion as it cruised Tampa's darkened streets as Nilexia sat in the backseat. Minutes after she got in the car, it turned down a dead-end stretch of Floribraska Avenue, made a U-turn, then stopped. Robert Creed, a passenger in the car who later pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact, testified that Walker began to argue with the girl there. The dispute had something to do with sex. Creed said Walker pulled a gun and shot Nilexia once in the car, then again multiple times after she got out. Walker's past conviction for the violent felony was one of the aggravating factors prosecutors cited to justify capital punishment. They also argued Nilexia's murder was committed in a 'cold, calculated and premeditated' manner. In the state's closing argument, Assistant State Attorney Chinwe Fossett reiterated much of the evidence the jury used to find Walker guilty, asserting that it showed he planned and thought about the killing before it happened. There was the drive to a darkened area, the carrying of a loaded weapon, the confrontation, the multiple gunshots. All of it, the prosecutor argued, suggested premeditation. 'On May 6 of 2022, the defendant, Ronny Walker, made up his mind that was the day he was going to kill Nilexia Alexander,' Fossett said. The defense, though, countered that there was no evidence of 'heightened' premeditation that could support a death sentence. At the same time, they argued that Walker's life circumstances and personal character weighed against death. His mother, Emma Hamilton, detailed her son's chaotic early life. He was afflicted with pneumonia and bronchitis shortly after his birth. He suffered seizures as a child and was prescribed medication. He once rolled out a two-story window and injured his head. He stammers sometimes when he speaks. He never knew his father. He grew up largely in public low-income housing. He was one of six siblings, for whom his mother struggled to provide. His school records indicated he didn't advance past the 6th grade. At age 9, he was deemed 'emotionally disturbed.' Two years later, records labeled him 'profoundly mentally handicapped.' When Walker was 10, his mother missed a medical appointment. State social workers got involved and split up the children. He and two brothers went to live with an aunt while his sisters went elsewhere. He became accustomed to life in some of East Tampa's toughest neighborhoods, where he was exposed to drug dealing. He did poorly in school and never graduated. Do you still love your son? Hamilton was asked. 'Yes,' she said. The jury heard much of the same from one of Walker's sisters, his niece, a cousin and his son's mother. Walker has three children. He carried pictures of them. A year before he was accused of murdering Nilexia, his oldest son was killed in a shooting. He visited his grave daily. The jury appeared to heed the words of the defense. 'If you simply see even a small spark of humanity in Mr. Walker,' Schlemmer told the jury, 'even if no one else sees it, you can give it the weight of life.'
Sky News
27-06-2025
- Sky News
Hainault trial sentencing as it happened: Marcus Monzo jailed to life for sword attack that killed Daniel Anjorin, 14
We're ending our live coverage That's all from us at the Old Bailey, where Marcus Monzo was sentenced to life behind bars. He will only get his first chance at parole in 38 years and 309 days. The 37-year-old was found guilty of murdering Daniel Anjorin, 14, and the attempted murder of three others during a 20-minute rampage with a samurai sword in Hainault on 30 April last year. To catch up on today's key developments, browse through the key points above - or scroll through this quick recap: Monzo was told by the judge "you must have known he was a boy" before he swung his sword at Daniel - sentencing him to at least 40 years in total, minus time already served on remand; Daniel's family - in a statement read by his father - said no family should endure what they have, but added they will honour his life "though the love and happiness" he brought; Monzo was "clearly psychotic", the judge said, as he praised the courage of police officers who approached him that day; He did show "some remorse" in a letter written for the judge, while his defence team said he would "turn back the clock" if he could; But survivors of his attack called for justice in their victim impact statements, detailing severe physical and emotional harm from Monzo's sword attack. Watch below: The moment Monzo is jailed for life 'We carry Daniel's light even in this dark time', says Anjorin family Daniel Anjorin was taken from his loved ones in a way "no family should have to endure", his father says. Dr Ebenezer Anjorin tells reporters his son had "so much potential ahead". "He was gifted academically, was kind and had a generous spirit that touched everyone who knew him," he adds. "We carry that light with us even in this dark time." Speaking briefly alongside Daniel's mum, Grace Anjorin, he also says they "honour Daniel's memory". "Not in the shadow of this tragedy," he adds. "But through the love and happiness he brought to us, and to all those who knew him. Thank you." Daniel Anjorin's father giving statement for family now Dr Ebenezer Anjorin, Daniel's dad, is now giving a statement to the media outside court. He's speaking on behalf of the family, after his son's killer Marcus Monzo was sentenced to life in prison. Watch in the live stream at the top of this page - we'll also provide text updates here. Watch: How the sword attack murder unfolded Marcus Arduini Monzo murdered 14-year-old Daniel Anjorin and attacked five others. Here's how that morning unfolded, from crashing a van into a pedestrian to his eventual arrest. As we've just been reporting, he will now spend a minimum of nearly 39 years in prison. Warning: This footage includes disturbing scenes Judge: Daniel's father showed composure that most of us would find impossible The judge said Daniel Anjorin's father's witness statement (see 12.57 post) was "a hard read, so heartbreaking are its contents". Mr Justice Bennathan continued: "Daniel was a clever boy. He was gifted musically, and played a variety of sports well. He was a happy child, and his loss is obviously devastating to his parents, and his brother and sister, and his grandparents." He also praised the conduct of Daniel's father, Dr Ebenezer Anjorin, throughout the trial. He said he acted in a "calm, dignified manner" and showed "a composure that most of us would find impossible". "I am very conscious that no sentence I pass can even begin to temper Daniel's family's grief," he said just before handing down his sentence. Judge said Monzo was 'clearly psychotic' and praised police courage Just before he passed his sentence, the judge told Marcus Monzo he was "clearly psychotic" during the attack. "You choosing to consume cannabis was the dominant cause of the state you were in that day. You knew it made you paranoid and could lead to panic attacks," he said. He said PC Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield - who he seriously injured with several "savage blows" - acted "totally fearlessly" to try to stop him hurting others. He said PC Cameron King, who had been with PC Mechem-Whitfield when she was stabbed, placed himself between her and the attacker, "probably saving her life". He added that Inspector Moloy Campbell - one of the other first responding officers - showed "great bravery and leadership, tried to disarm or subdue you with his baton, only to be caught by a powerful swing of your sword, leaving him with a deep chopping wound to his right hand". "Soon afterwards, you were stopped and detained by a number of police officers using tasers that finally brought you under control," he added. He said all officers at the scene "behaved with exemplary courage and put their lives on the line to try to protect the public" and should be "proud". Video shows 'extraordinary bravery' of officers confronting Monzo In his sentencing remarks moments ago, the judge praised officers who responded with "exemplary courage" to the attack last year and confronted Marcus Monzo. The Metropolitan Police commissioner echoed that message before today's sentencing, hailing "extraordinary bravery". Sir Mark Rowley praised their "relentless courage" in a statement shared alongside a video of the moment officers approached Monzo. It shows them chasing after him, before one officer is attacked while another shouts, "police officer stabbed". Other officers are seen confronting Monzo, before it shows him being put in handcuffs. "Many will remember the events that unfolded in Hainault in April last year and the shock waves that they sent through communities," Sir Mark said. "The two elements of this case which drew such attention were, of course, the horrendous killing of Daniel, but second to that, the most extraordinary bravery of our officers who responded that day." Watch the police force's video below Life-changing injuries Police on the scene were "desperate to protect the community", Sir Mark said, and ran "towards an erratic and violent man" who had just killed a young child and injured others. PC Yasmin Mechem-Whitfield was hit with "extreme force" three times with the 60cm long blade as she chased Monzo through alleyways and residential properties. Inspector Moloy Campbell tried to detain Monzo in a car park - he suffered a slash wound to his hand. Sir Mark said two officers received "life-changing injuries". "And despite seeing their colleagues suffer those injuries, additional officers, without hesitation, continued to pursue the suspect, using every tactic available to stop this rampage," he added. Monzo jailed for life Marcus Monzo has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 40 years. Mr Justice Bennathan told him, including time he has already served, he will be in prison for 38 years and 309 days before he is eligible for parole. "Mr Monzo can go to jail," the judge says. It is possible he will never be released. After that time, he may be eligible for parole, but much will depend on his behaviour and remorse until then. He will be at least 75 at that point. You must have known he was a child, judge tells Monzo The judge describes a "peaceful" setting before the attack on 30 April last year. He tells Marcus Monzo - who is in court wearing a bright green hooded top and light grey sweatpants - he caused a "devastating" scene. Monzo killed a "clever, talented, much-loved" young boy - Daniel Anjorin, 14 - with a "savage blow" of a sword. "You, Marcus Monzo, did all of that," he says. He says Monzo drove to Hainault in a "clearly psychotic state", and first tried to murder pedestrian Donato Iwule. "You then must have seen Daniel Anjorin," he says. "You must have known he was a child, a schoolboy. You came up behind him and struck him in the neck." The judge also pays tribute to a heroic passerby, Nathan Hutchinson, who tried to help Daniel, before he was "forced back" by Monzo. Judge now delivering sentencing remarks The judge is now in place and has started to give his sentencing remarks, which you can watch live in the stream at the top of this page. He will soon reveal Marcus Monzo's jail time - stay with us for updates.
