CHESAPEAKE
A jury Friday recommended 78-year prison sentences for two local men convicted of killing a 1-year-old girl during a home invasion in South Norfolk.
The jury made the recommendation in Chesapeake Circuit Court during the 10th day of the murder trial for Shawn Sir Charles Ward, 22, and Julian "Ramel" Barksdale, 20.
They are scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 16.
The jury found Ward and Barksdale guilty this week of second-degree murder in the Nov. 10 killing of Ny-Asia Tillmon. The child was shot in the head when as many as three masked gunmen forced their way into a first-floor apartment in the 3700 block of Bainbridge Blvd. and opened fire.
A third suspect has not been identified or arrested. The motive for the crime remains unclear.
During the incident, the infant's grandmother, Mary Arnold, was shot in the left hand. The child's uncle, Bernard Person, was wounded in the arm.
Another child, age 3, and several other adults in the house escaped injury. The intruders scattered after Person returned fire.
Defense attorneys Anthony Draper and David Hargett had argued that there was no physical evidence to place their clients at the scene. They said that police failed to explore other leads, suggesting a link between the home invasion and the killing of a 22-year-old man on nearby Commerce Avenue hours later.
The shooting of Lawrence Antonio White remains unsolved.
"Of course they're connected," Hargett told the jury during closing arguments. "How many times have you heard 'Commerce' come up in the course of this case?"
Prosecutors D.J. Hansen and Karen Brown relied on the testimony of Erica Arnold to place Ward and Barksdale at the crime scene. She was the only resident in the home who said she could identify any of the intruders.
Ward and Barksdale will serve a mandatory 18 years in prison for using firearms during the crime. The jury recommended 20 years for the armed burglary, 20 years for killing the infant and five years for the attempted murder of Arnold. The two men received an additional five years for wounding Person, 10 years for wounding Arnold and one day for wearing a mask in public.
John Hopkins, (757) 222-5221, john.hopkins@pilotonline.com
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What are you saying
What are you saying Charles?
If you're saying what I think you are saying then I would get banned for saying what Im now thinking of saying.
charlesw18004 are you serious?
These two fools (edited because this is a family paper) murdered an innocent baby and you are worried about them? You will "support them"?
People that support murderers need to take a good long look in the mirror, and think about what is wrong with them. There is something seriously wrong. Seriously.
geriatric release
I hate to break it to you folks that think these two will die in prison. They have a thing called geriatric release that is given to old people. They will probably walk the streets again, only this they made need a walker to assist them.
Death Penalty
I think they should have gotten death for killing an innocent child. You can kill a no good drug dealer and get more time than they got for killing a child. Well, that just proves that America does not care about the lives of innocent children. When they get in front of their maker he will take care of business. Too bad we have to wait until than.
Torture them
Torture these terrorists Gitmo style until they give the name of the 3rd suspect and then execute them all... 78 years is too nice... our justice system needs a new set of teeth and cojones...
A rose by any other name smells as sweet...
They'll be 98 and 100 years old respectively if they serve this sentence. I think we can call that life.
I am pleased
Ok well at least they will never walk the streets again!!!! they did get life, not literally, but 78 years, they will die in jail and thats all that matters. The third sick fool, I pray will be caught!!!
It's a shame
Now we have two more idiots taking up space and breathing! They should have taken them both outside and executed them then and there! No mess--quick and easy -- a bullet in the head --- next case!
They should have been given the choice of either....
The death penalty or 78 years in prison. The death penalty unless the told who the other people involved were and if they told they should have received 78 years. Thats just my take on it.
I can't believe this..
So the lives of these two have to be ruined as well? This just isn't fair. I knew they didn't have a chance in the Chesapeake system. I will support them however I can. May God bless them and watch over them as they serve their time. This is such a sad day for all families involved. Two more lives ruined!
Not enough. Bring back the
Not enough. Bring back the chain gangs of old!
78 Year Sentence
It is a no win situation for all involved. Our young black men need to learn how to get a job, stop selling drugs and commtting crimes. They took something very precious and something they cannot give back-a life of a child. Hopefully, they will ask for forgiveness from God and from the family whose lves they have destroyed. I am sick and tired of hearing how these boys are destroying others and themselves. Parents teach them love, respect and values. It is my prayer that this generation will learn how to treat one another and stop using violence to settle situations. It is not a man who shoots another, it is a punk.
another 78
should have given them another 78 years for not identifying the 3rd coward involved......
Unacceptable sentence
Life or death penalty should have been the only 2 choices available.