Ronell Wilson, who was found guilty and sentenced to death in January for the 2003 murder of two undercover police officers, was formally sentenced yesterday. The prosecution and defense argued their positions on the sentence once again, and then Wilson, who did not speak during the entire trial, said:
"I would like to say that since there’s no jury here — like the prosecutors had said plenty of times that I had to prove to them — I’d like to say to the families of the victims that I’m sorry, I’m very sorry for the pain that I really caused you. I know it don't mean much and you still look at me as the lowest thing on Earth, but in my heart I tell you that I'm very sorry again...
"...None of us knew these men were cops. Period."
However, Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis questioned Wilson's sincerity. (And the prosecution didn't need to prove Wilson knew his victims were cops, according to the Sun.) The Daily News reports Garaufis responded, "He disposed of [the slain detectives, James Nemorin and Rodney Andrews] in a way people would not dispose of garbage." Garaufis then said, "It is the judgment of this court that Ronell Wilson be sentenced to death." Wilson will now go to the Terre Haute Federal Correctional Complex in Indiana.
Hundreds of police officers appeared for the sentencing. Detectives' Endowment Association president Michael Palladino said, "There will be nothing more gratifying that hearing Judge Garaufis impose the ultimate punishment."
