In Court, Killer of Detectives Begs for His Life To Be Spared

The murderer of two police officers rose to his feet yesterday and apologized to a jury for his crime, as a trial that began nearly two months ago nears its end.The jury’s task of weighing the sincerity of Ronell Wilson’s words will begin in earnest on Monday, when jurors return to the U.S. courthouse in Brooklyn to hear closing remarks and start deliberating on whether to give Wilson a sentence of death or life in prison.When Wilson, 24, delivered his five-paragraph statement, he stood before the jury a man who has been fully introduced. His crime of March 10, 2003 — the murder of detectives James Nemorin and Rodney Andrews — had been described to the jury in detail. In the past week, the jury heard of the impoverished circumstances surrounding Wilson’s boyhood in Staten Island and Queens. This testimony continued through early yesterday, with witnesses describing Wilson’s report cards in special-education classes and his reputation for wetting the bed at age 14 while an inmate in a juvenile detention facility.“I am not good with words,” Wilson said when it was his turn to speak. “I wish I could explain myself more better, but I am truly sorry for the pain I have caused them all. I know that I have caused a great deal of pain to them all and I say it again and again: I am so sorry.”Wilson did not look at the jury during his short address. He stared down at the table, on which lay the most recent copy of his speech.Judge Nicholas Garaufis had vetted three drafts yesterday. Wilson was somewhat limited in what he could say without subjecting himself to cross-examination by the government.In a thick, gentle voice, Wilson spoke of his “deep sorrow” toward the victims’ families but did not mention Nemorin or Andrews by name. He did not describe his crime. He stumbled over his words only once.“I would never wish this for anyone, because I know how painful it is,” Wilson said. “So I cannot be remorseless and show no sympathy to these men’s families and friends.”These were the first sentences Wilson had spoken yet to the jury. After he finished, he watched the jurors for any signals. They offered none, quickly filing out of the courtroom.In the hallway outside the courtroom, police officers and relatives of the victims said they were not touched by Wilson’s words.“No sincerity,” Rodney Andrews Sr., the father of one of the slain detectives, said to reporters outside the courtroom when asked what he thought of Wilson’s statement.“In essence today, he begged for his life,” the president of the city’s Detectives Endowment Association, Michael Palladino, said.“The ironic part of the whole thing is it was well established that after he killed Detective Andrews, Detective Nemorin had to beg for his life,” Mr. Palladino said. “Wilson disregarded that and executed him.”He continued: “I just hope the jury does exactly what he did: disregard the statement and impose a sentence of death.”

In Court, Killer of Detectives Begs for His Life To Be Spared

In Court, Killer of Detectives Begs for His Life To Be Spared

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