Jury sentences Mario McNeill to death for the murder of Shaniya Davis
Published: 01:36 PM, Wed May 29, 2013
By Michael Futch
Staff writer
Mario McNeill was sentenced to death today for the murder of 5-year-old Shaniya Davis in November 2009.
McNeill, 33, declined the opportunity to speak before being sentenced by Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Jim Ammons.
Jurors deliberated a little more than a half-hour before reaching a decision.
"I can never get Shaniya back. You've taken that from me,'' said Bradley Lockhart, Shaniya's father. "You were the last thing my daughter got to look at.''
Ammons addressed McNeill before McNeill was escorted from the courtroom.
"You did not have to kill that child,'' Ammons said.
"Take him out of here now,'' Ammons told the bailiffs.
Ammons later apologized to Shaniya's family for not being able to bring them justice. He said the trial was the best that could be done.
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