Killer ordered to serve life without chance at parole
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WARREN -- Convicted killer Kashaun Williams will spend the rest of his life in prison without any chance at parole for the shooting death of James Chapman and attempted murder of Chapman's live-in girlfriend, Martina Moore.
Williams also was sentenced to an additional 81 years for charges of aggravated murder, attempted murder, kidnapping and aggravated burglary, all with firearm specifications.
He had faced charges of capital murder, felonious assault and having weapons when not allowed.
Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Ronald J. Rice imposed the sentence Thursday as the families of Williams and Chapman watched from the court gallery.
Chapman's family came to court with two large, framed photos of Chapman, which they clutched as the sentence was handed down.
Chapman's mother, Lasoneya Lynk, addressed Williams before he escorted back to county jail to await transfer to state prison.
"I have no mercy for him (Williams), and, at the end of the day, it was not meant for him to have the death penalty. It was meant for him to die slow and think about what he did to my child," Lynk said. "He chose to be God that night, he chose to be the juror that night and he chose to be you, Judge Rice."
She said she believed Williams deserved to be caged "like the animal he is."
The night of her son's murder, Lynk and two of her daughters huddled in a closet inside the Lener Avenue home where the murder occurred.
Lynk, throughout the many court hearings and again Thursday, thanked God for keeping her and her daughters safe that night.
Williams spoke before his sentencing. "I just want to say whatever you decide to do to me today, it's only temporary."
In delivering the sentence, the judge said, "Only you and God know why you went to Mr. Chapman's house that fateful night. The truth remains elusive. Had it not been for Miss Moore's courage and struggle for survival, this case would've centered on the tragic loss of two lives."
The judge called Williams' characterization spelled out during his trial that he had been trying to save Moore, as "ludicrous and offensive."
County Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Becker expressed satisfaction with the verdict.
"This defendant is an absolute menace. He's a psychopath, and he deserves to die in prison … And without a doubt that's going to happen with this sentence today," Becker said.