3 convicted in rap artist's deathMen to spend rest of their lives in prison for 2006 Lincolnville killing of Sterling Spann, 19 By Schuyler Kropf (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Saturday, May 10, 2008
The Post and Courier Leo C. Gadsden 
The Post and Courier Keive Milik Smith 
The Post and Courier Anthony Dominique Wilder A jury deliberated for less than 2 1/2 hours Friday before finding three men guilty of the August 2006 murder of an aspiring music entrepreneur who was shot after arriving on the scene of a home invasion in Lincolnville. None of the three men showed emotion as Circuit Judge Joseph Derham Cole of Spartanburg sentenced them to spend the rest of their lives behind bars for killing 19-year-old Sterling "Sterlo" Spann. Prosecutors and Spann's family members had asked for the maximum for the killers following a five-day trial at the Charleston County Judicial Center. Assistant Solicitor Nathan Williams called the case "about as horrible a set of circumstances as you will ever see," adding that Spann's death was nothing short of "an execution." Spann was killed after he and a friend drove up to the home of Patricia Ann Green on West Stall Street in Lincolnville. Inside the home, Green was being beaten after the three men burst inside her house looking to steal and rob. The three attackers moved outside to confront Spann and his friend after their car pulled up. The friend, Jamie Williams, was shot four times and stumbled to the nearby Lincolnville fire station where he collapsed but survived. Spann died of his wounds. Convicted Friday were Leo C. Gadsden, 21, of Ferrera Drive in North Charleston; Anthony Dominique Wilder, 23, of Realm Street in Charleston; and Keive Milik Smith, 22, of Rose Lane in Charleston. All were convicted on multiple felony counts, including murder, kidnapping, assault and battery with intent to kill, and first-degree burglary. They received life sentences for the murder, as well as life sentences for the burglary charges. Each was convicted under the legal doctrine that the "hand of one is the hand of all" in a multi- defendant case that involves murder. During the trial, the men offered no defense to the charges. They were arrested after a high-speed chase and pursuit by a Charleston County sheriff's deputy, which ended with a crash on Interstate 26. After the sentences were delivered Friday, friends and family members of the convicted men sobbed in the courtroom. The families of the victims then asked Judge Cole to hand down the maximum penalties possible. Spann's mother told the courtroom her son didn't deserve to die. "He never roamed the streets that much," she said. "He did everything he was supposed to in life." Spann was known for performing, writing and producing rap music from a makeshift studio in his house. He planned to go to college. Nearly 40 prosecution witnesses were called in the case. Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551, or skropf@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 13 comment(s)
Posted by professional_blk_woman on May 10, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
These men got exactly what they deserved. When you take the life of another person simply because they, by happenstance, walk in on you committing a crime, you deserve to spend the rest of your life with the other butt bandits in prison. This makes absolutely no sense. A life taken and a woman traumatized for no good reason.
Posted by amberjack2362 on May 10, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh,
I thought they we going to go to the ASPCA and be locked up in a cage. Then if not one wanted them with in 10 days they would be euthanized like the rest of the dogs no one wants.
Posted by moonpie on May 10, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Unbelievable, and the NAACP and the Rev Wright think it's all about the white people and some stupid flag! Here are the issues in this case, I bet none had a father in their life, I bet all were raised by single mothers in a low income housing project somewhere. I bet they all failed in school and never finished. Look up those stats on these culprits and report that back to us.
Our government will never do the right thing because they want the votes!
Posted by dbeast420 on May 10, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by amberjack2362 on May 10, 2008 at 8:57 a.m.
Oh,
I thought they we going to go to the ASPCA and be locked up in a cage. Then if not one wanted them with in 10 days they would be euthanized like the rest of the dogs no one wants.
^^^^^^^
Now,thats one hell of an idea. Maybe the state should adopt it
Posted by preachlove on May 10, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It seems these days our society is running rampant with evil thugs like these. I doubt they would have gotten that much money from this home invasion; maybe enough to go on a crack binge. They had no remorse for the lives they're runined. They had absolutely no regard for human life - they need to be treated like the animals they are. I agree dbeast420, that they should be put in a cage, throw scraps at them; put their water in a bucket and don't give them any restroom facilities.
Posted by wonderdog on May 10, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I would object to putting these guys in a cage at the animal shelter - the animals did nothing to deserve having to share space with these lower life forms.
Look at their eyes in these pictures - it's scary that there are many more like them among us.
Posted by BKLYNIRISH on May 10, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Artist?"
"Music entrepreneur?"
Do we really assign either of these titles to those in the "rap" industry?
With that said, I'd love to see the rap sheets on these three specimens. I am willing to bet that at least one of them should have been in prison at the time of the murder.
Posted by SomeTruthPlease on May 10, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That Leo Gadsden is one fine lookin' fella. Note the sarcasm.
Posted by SomeTruthPlease on May 10, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It appears that Wilder has quite a few outstanding charges as well, mostly involving distribution of cocaine. It's high time these three pieces of human waste are off the streets.
Posted by burton on May 10, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Senseless! I can never understand these types of crimes. You reap what you sow. I will continue to concentrate on the children and young adults that are doing something positive in their lives. We tend to forget about them!
These three got what they deserve and will have to spend the rest of their lives in prison thinking about their crime! But you know the sad part, I have a childhood friend that has been in prison 20+ years and he tells me that guys like these normally have no remorse for their crimes! Sad!
Posted by SCPDBLUE on May 10, 2008 at 2:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My friends you see what can be done when the justice system works right.With that said How come those five scumbags who shot and killed SC State Constable Robert Bailey 5-14-07 wont be tried under the below doctrine.
Each was convicted under the legal doctrine that the "hand of one is the hand of all" in a multi- defendant case that involves murder.
Three will maybe get 15 years - time served,one may get 15 to 20 - time served,the shooter might get life or death. The scumbags who shot Mr.Spann recieved justice,the families got justice. But in the case of a law enforcement officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty protecting the citizens of Lincolnville then buried in a shallow grave in a corn field for 5 days,50 miles from the crime scene,I doubt that Solicitor Wilson will seek the same for these scumbags.Which she should "HAND OF ONE HAND OF ALL".Constable Bailey's family will not get the justice like the Spann family because of politcal grand standing and deal making.Just watch and see my friends.
Posted by soul2soul on May 10, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They made the choice now they have to live with the consequences......choices choices choices! ~SMH~
Posted by luvmydogs59 on May 10, 2008 at 7:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by BKLYNIRISH on May 10, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Artist?"
"Music entrepreneur?"
Do we really assign either of these titles to those in the "rap" industry?
What difference does it make if it was rap, rock, or opera?? This young man was trying to make something of himself. That's more that can be said for a lot of young people today. He didn't deserve to get killed. Just because he was in the rap industry has no bearing on anything. Would you think better of him, trying to make something of himself, if he was a rock promoter? Please...get real.