Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Philadelphia, PA: Philly man gets life term in woman's 2008 murder

A north Philadelphia man has been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison for the stabbing death of his girlfriend three years ago.

The Philadelphia Inquirer ( http://bit.ly/o8yBpJ) says Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Minehart convicted 31-year-old Solomon Carter of first-degree murder Tuesday in the October 2008 slaying of 32-year-old Karimah Ballard.

Witnesses testified that Carter had been drinking and using PCP and erupted in rage after Ballard ordered him to leave her apartment

Carter told the judge that the conviction didn't "seem right." He apologized to the victim's family, saying he had not intended for anyone to die, but said "it was an accident."

Prosecutors originally sought the death penalty but withdrew it upon learning about the defendant's longstanding mental health and drug and alcohol problems.

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