By Stan Lehr
11/20/2009
 Desmond Turner--convicted of the Hamilton Avenue killings--will spend the rest of his life in prison, barring appeal. Marion Superior Court Judge Robert Altice has sentenced Turner to life without parole, plus 88 years on separate charges of criminal confinement, robbery and burglary.
Listen:
An appeal is sure to come. Turner told the court that he knows now "how Christ felt when he died for our sins." And he vowed that he "will be redeemed."
The niece of murder victim Emma Valdez, Esmeralda Espinoza, cited poetry by an anonymous author. "If tears could a stairway and memories were a lane, I would walk right up to heaven to bring you home again," she read aloud.
Marion County Prosectuor Carl Brizzi said, "We are satisified with the result and look forward to trying Mr. Stewart"--referring to Turner's co-defendant James Stewart. Jury selection in his trial is scheduled December 5th.
10-year-old Jasmine Albarran, the daughter of victim Magno Albarran and his ex-wife Kimberly Fisher read from a prepared statment, "I still need my Dad to teach me Spanish and help me grow."
Her mother tearfully told the court that her daughter, then just 7 years old, asked at her father's funeral, "Why doesn't he wake up? Doesn't he know I'm here?"
Maria Flores, the sister of victim Emma Valdez, said her six children often asks questions for which she has no answer.
As the survivors made their emotional statements, Turner stared at a sheet of paper before him on the defense table--his own prepared statement. He insisted as he has all along that he's an innocent man. "I will be redeemed," he said.
Turner referred to Prosecutor Carl Brizzi as "the political showman." Brizzi quoted a statement heard minutes earlier from a survivor--that only a monster could kill a child. "That monster, your honor, " said Brizzi with a gesture toward Desmond Turner.
» Turner Sentenced to Life Without Parole (10-23-09)
» Desmond Turner Convicted on All Counts (10-22-09)
» DNA Evidence Debated at Hamilton Avenue Trial (10-22-09)
» DNA Expert Cross-Examined at Hamilton Ave. Trial (10-21-09)
» DNA Evidence Presented at Hamilton Ave. Trial (10-20-09)
» Testimony Ties Turner to Alleged Accomplice (10-20-09)
» Physical Evidence Presented in Hamilton Ave. Trial (10-20-09)
» Stunning Testimony in Hamilton Avenue Trial (10-19-09)
» Homicide Detectives Testify in Turner Trial (10-19-09)
» Doctor Who Performed Hamilton Ave. Autopsies Testifies (10-19-09)
» Hamilton Ave. Trial Enters Second Week (10-19-09)
» Translator Has Important Job in Hamilton Avenue Trial (10-19-09)
» Crime Scene Video Shown in Desmond Turner Trial (10-16-09)
» Neighbors Testify in Hamilton Avenue Murder Trial (10-16-09)
» Testimony Continues in Hamilton Avenue Trial (10-15-09)
» Key Witness Testifies at Hamilton Avenue Trial (10-15-09)
» Key Witness Yet to Take Stand at Hamilton Avenue Trial (10-14-09)
» More Teens Testify at Turner Trial (10-14-09)
» Teenager's Testimony Places Turner at Scene (10-14-09)
» Key Witness Testifies Wednesday in Turner Trial (10-13-09)
» Turner's Boyhood Friend Testifies For Prosecution (10-13-09)
» More Testimony In Hamilton Avenue Trial (10-13-09)
» Hamilton Ave. Trial Enters Second Day (10-13-09)
» First Day of Testimony Wraps up in Hamilton Avenue Trial (10-12-09)
» Testimony Underway in Turner Trial (10-12-09)
» Desmond Turner Trial Begins (10-12-09)
» Trial Starts Monday in Indianapolis Slayings of 7 (10-10-09)
» Brizzi Withholding Comment on Disciplinary Investigation (10-8-09)
» Prosecutor Accused Of Breaching Rules Of Conduct (10-7-09)
» Family Member Wants Death Penalty in Murders of 7 (10-1-09)
» Dissension Over Hamilton Avenue Case (9-30-09)
» Murder Suspect Waives Right to Jury Trial (9-15-09)
» Hamilton Avenue Suspects Set For Trial (9-3-09)
» 2 Accused in Killing of 7 to Appear in Court (9-3-09)
» Hamilton Ave. Murders Happened 3 Years Ago Today (6-1-09)
» Home Where 7 Were Killed Still Standing (9-19-08)
» Suspect in Killing of Seven Sentenced For Battery (9-18-08)
» Fire Destroys House Where Mass Shootings Occurred (8-25-08)
» Suspected Killer Convicted of Battery in Separate Case (8-14-08)
» Suspected Killer in Court for Different Case (8-14-08)
» Motions Heard in Hamilton Avenue Case (4-24-08)
» Murder Suspect Guilty On Separate Charge (11-29-07)
» Accused Murderer On Trial For Separate Incident (11-29-07)
» Trial For Men Accused of Killing Seven Now Set For 2009 (7-28-07)
» Memorial for Victims of the Hamilton Avenue Murders (6-1-07)
» Defendants in Family Slaying Appear in Court (3-23-07)
» Accused Hamilton Avenue Murder Suspect Remains in Jail (1-19-07)
» Transfer Sought Of Marion County Prisoner Charged In Seven Slayings (1-5-07)
» Defense Seeks Venue Change for Hamilton Ave. Murder Suspects (7-27-06)
» Murdered Eastside Family Buried in Mexico (6-20-06)
» Brizzi: Eastside Murders Suspect Spit on Jail Guard (6-14-06)
» Hundreds Gather for Funeral Services for Murder Victims (6-7-06)
» Funeral For First Victim Held As Prosecutor Files Formal Charges (6-6-06)
» Eastside Murder Suspects Appear in Court (6-6-06)
» Affidavit: Victim Drew Gun on Gunmen Before 7 Killed (6-5-06)
» Victims Remembered as Suspects Prepare for Court (6-5-06)
» Residents Remember Slain Family (6-4-06)
» Prosecutor Says He Will Seek Death Penalty For Accused Murderer (6-4-06)
» Police: All Suspects in Eastside Murders Now in Custody (6-4-06)
» Main Suspect in Eastside Murders Surrenders (6-2-06)
» Suspect in Family’s Murder Has Extensive Criminal Background (6-2-06)
» 7 Murdered in Eastside Home; Police Name Suspect (6-2-06)
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