Nathaniel Rowland, 27, was additionally discovered responsible of kidnapping and possession of a weapon throughout a violent crime within the killing of Samantha Josephson, a College of South Carolina pupil.
Rowland was arrested the next day after police noticed him in a automotive that matched the outline seen in surveillance video.
In the course of the sentencing listening to on Tuesday, Josephson’s household requested Circuit Court docket Choose Clifton Newman to condemn Rowland to life in jail and expressed the ache they’ve needed to endure.
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Rowland additionally spoke and maintained his innocence.
“I do know I am harmless, however I suppose what I do know and what I believe actually does not matter,” Rowland stated. “I simply want the state would have carried out extra find out who the precise individual was as an alternative of being happy with detaining me and proving my guilt.”
However the decide stated there was an “avalanche of proof” in opposition to Rowland.
Josephson’s blood was discovered within the automotive’s passenger facet and the trunk, and her mobile phone was within the passenger compartment, authorities stated on the time of her killing.
“The proof is so substantial on this case pointing to your guilt, and I emphasize it and reemphasize it due to the horrific and most brutal nature this crime. It couldn’t be worse,” Newman stated. “It is probably the most extreme homicide that has occurred, that I’ve been a witness to so far as presiding in court docket or take part in as a lawyer. And for whomever asks me for leniency, that is not a part of my DNA.”
The protection had motioned for a brand new trial primarily based on the “brevity” of the deliberations, however Newman denied the movement.
“Because you solely have one life, that sentence have to be served for the remaining days of your pure life,” Newman stated.
