Posted on 11/10/2010 4:31:52 AM PST by 50mm
Evelyn Burgess was in a jealous rage when she assaulted her teenage cousin for wearing what she considered an inappropriate outfit to Easter dinner.
But she relaxed after chasing 19-year-old Danielle Pickens outside and fatally shooting her in the face as she cowered in a car parked in front of Burgess' North Side house.
"(Burgess) calmly walked away and stated, 'I killed the bitch,' and placed the gun on the mantel above the fireplace," Assistant Prosecutor Laurie Arsenault said in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.
The 42-year-old defendant pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of murder in the April 4 killing on Manchester Avenue.
Judge Stephen L. McIntosh imposed the mandatory sentence of 18 years to life in prison - 15 years for the murder and three additional years because a gun was used.
"Where your mind was, I don't think even you know," the judge told her.
Burgess offered no explanation when she quietly apologized to family members in the courtroom.
"Saying I'm sorry can never fully express how I feel," she said.
Arsenault said Burgess was hosting a family dinner on Easter Sunday and "thought the shorts that Danielle was wearing were too short. She was upset when she thought that her husband was looking at them."
Arsenault said Burgess chased Pickens around the house, kicking and punching her and eventually swinging a baseball bat at her. As family members restrained Burgess, Pickens ran outside and got in the passenger side of a car with her sister, Rolinda Pickens, behind the wheel.
Burgess broke free and followed with a .38-caliber handgun.
Rolinda Pickens was unable to start the car and tried to shield her sister, but Burgess "pulled Danielle by the hair with one hand and fired the gun at Danielle's face with the other," Arsenault said.
Although the victim and defendant could best be described as cousins, Arsenault said Burgess and the victim's mother "were essentially raised as sisters."
Danielle Pickens and her sister referred to Burgess as "Aunt Ev."
None of the family members gathered in the courtroom chose to speak, but Danielle Pickens' mother, Sheena Pickens, wanted to deliver a statement through the prosecutor.
"As a mother, she worried constantly about her children ... but you shouldn't have to worry when they're with family," Arsenault said.
A court employee read a statement from the victim's uncle, Tameico Pickens, who called Danielle a "sweet, caring, loving person." He said the family now is divided and lost two members as a result of the shooting.
"We all wish we could wake up and it was just a nightmare."
For your enjoyment.
Animal! Nothing but a animalistic beast.
None of the family could speak for themselves during the sentencing and none raised a proper hand to defend the victim from a woman, who had left a baseball bat available for that task....is that what I am reading?
What a tragic story.
Lots of bad judgment here
"Hell hath no fury like..."
Another “Amish gone wild” episode.
“Saying I’m sorry can never fully express how I feel,” she said.
The sentence doesn’t seem to match the crime. Out in nine for good behavior?
I miss our lost civilization.
Word up for all of you thinking of dressing down for Easter/Christmas.
Keep it real!
I looked. Though I really didn't have to.
Evelyn was 'disrespected', so naturally she had to kill the b**ch.
[We're going tribal folks and this 'carp' has to end. One way, or 'another'.]
So when she gets out in five years will she kill again?
“Saying I’m sorry can never fully express how I feel,” she said.
You feel disrespected. You didn’t want to to kill her. You HAD to do it.
Hope and Change...
It’s a black thing. You wouldn’t understand. Just like that poor innocent kid that nearly a whole community watched as he was stomped to death in Georgia... just a black thing.
***I miss our lost civilization.***
I miss that we do not reflect on the message of Easter and Christmas, but ‘celebrate’ with food, booze and baubles.
The comments from the link are deplorable and fear there will be some right here on FR, just as mindless.
Look, what is more important? Having a wonderful family time during a sacred holiday, or making sure you is keepin’ it real by viciously assaulting and murdering someome you love, just to make the point you will NOT be disrespected? Duh!
Everyone knows “keeping it real” is the greatest virtue, next to tolerance.
Those Norwegians are at it again, eh?
18 years to life? What the heck does that mean? I suspect it means she could walk in 6 years? For murder? There are folks in prison serving longer sentences because they were caught with pot on them...
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