Man sentenced in Camden torture slayings
A Merchantville man was sentenced to two concurrent 30-year prison sentences for the torture slayings of a Burlington County couple during a violent frenzy last year in a Camden rowhouse.
Man sentenced in Camden torture slayings
A Merchantville man was sentenced to two concurrent 30-year prison sentences for the torture slayings of a Burlington County couple during a violent frenzy last year in a Camden rowhouse.
During his sentencing on Thursday, Darryl “Rush” Pierre, 20, referred to one of the victims as a “bright young lady” and friend with whom he had enjoyed chatting. Yet he did not deny helping to kill her or her boyfriend.
The deaths of Muriah Ashley Huff, 18, and Michael “Doc Money” Hawkins, 23 , on Feb. 22, 2010, came from “evil in the hearts” of those who participated, said Camden County Assistant Prosecutor Mary Alison Albright.
The slayings were "horrendous," said Superior Court Judge Irvin Snyder. “I can’t even find a word to describe how depraved it was,” he said of the events that took place that day.
Huff's family members talked about their loss and the bright future they had envisioned for the teenager, who was soon to graduate with a degree in cosmetology from Burlington County Institute of Technology. Though there were no relatives in court on behalf of Hawkins, his death should be mourned as well, Albright noted.
The couple had stopped by the rowhouse on Berkley Street to visit their friends, who were members of the Lueders Park Piru Bloods street gang. Gang members turned on Hawkins because he associated with the rival Crips. He was beaten, shot and tortured for hours.
Huff, who also was tortured, was killed only because she was there, authorities said. Prosecutors charged 10 people. Pierre is the second one to plead guilty to manslaughter rather than go to trial and face a possible life sentence for murder.
Another reason every American should legally be allowed to carry a gun.— delcodanno
Judge Snyder: "Horrendous. I can't even find a word to describe how depraved it was."
Well,let me try you spineless excuse of a human being: "For your crimes, although we do not have the death penalty, you will never see the light of a free man again." Instead, the killer gets 30 years and will be out in the prime of his life, able to resume the kind of life he only knew.
New Jersey Judges and Prosecutors are more concerned with the rights of the convicted criminal rather the murder victims lying in their graves. If you haven't been paying attention, weak sentences for horrific crimes are the norm in New Jersey. I honestly don't know how the corrupt officers of the court can look at the victims families when they express indignations of the crime and then hand out a 30 year and walk free pass to the killer. I yearn for the day when true justice returns to New Jersey but with these law-schooled jelly fishes we have running the courts now, it may not happen in our lifetime. My condolences to the victims and the victims families. Today, thanks to the dishonorable judge snyder and prosecutor albright the victims and their families today were sentenced to a life of hell while the killer laughs. Sickening.....
