Failed Boxer "The Harlem Hammer" Fined And Sent To Prison
greg...@yahoo.ca
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/06042006/2/sports-boxer-sentenced-nearly-30-years-killing-sports-journalist.html
Boxer sentenced to nearly 30 years for killing sports journalist Thu
Apr 06, 12:14 AM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Boxer James Butler Jr., who fought under the moniker
"The Harlem Hammer," was sentenced Wednesday to nearly 30 years in
prison for the death of sports journalist Sam Kellerman.
Butler will also pay $17,853 US in funeral expenses to Kellerman's
family, $10,000 to the state's victim restitution fund and $11,882 to
the owner of the victim's apartment, which was left torched and
blood-soaked after the killing, said Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for
the district attorney's office.
Kellerman's body was found in his Hollywood apartment on Oct. 17, 2004,
near a hammer.
The 33-year-old boxer pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and
arson as jury selection was set to begin in his trial on March 27.
Butler and Kellerman, the 29-year-old younger brother of New York-based
boxing expert and ESPN Radio show host Max Kellerman, had been friends
and the boxer had been staying at the freelance writer's apartment,
police said.
Prosecutors believe the attack came as Butler was having a tough time
reviving his career, and was depressed about a souring relationship
with his girlfriend, who was the mother of his child, Robison said.
"It's possible Mr. Kellerman asked him to move out or there was a
disagreement over how long he could stay with him and it resulted in
him picking up a hammer," she said. "The judge called it 'a
slaughter."'
Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor reduced the sentence of 29 years
and four months by 613 days to account for time Butler spent in custody
since four days after the killing, said Superior Court spokeswoman Pat
Kelly.
Butler has a pro record of 20-5-0, with 12 wins by knockout. He is best
known for sucker-punching opponent Richard Grant in November 2001 after
losing a charity bout in New York.
Citizen-Y
This guy is an embarrassment to Harlem.
J. Derlim
wrote:
That's like saying dog crap is an embarrassment to poop. Its pretty
much the same thing.
Gio
"J. Derlim" <jaso...@home.net> wrote in message
news:44399af0....@news.easynews.com...
Hey hey, the Globetrotters are from Harlem...