Men sentenced in 2005 killing

Rosie Turner made it clear that she hopes the two men sent to prison Friday for murdering her son will spend the rest of their lives agonizing over his death.

Emmerson Gatewood, the man convicted of firing the shot that killed Parunta Turner on July 12, 2005, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Friday afternoon by Lauderdale County Circuit Court Judge Mike Jones.

Earlier in the day, Steven Lamont Harrison was sentenced to two consecutive life terms for his admitted role in Turner's death.

Turner, 29, was killed during a home invasion, kidnapping and robbery at his apartment in Florence.

The jury that convicted Gatewood on July 9 of capital murder and first-degree kidnapping for taking Turner's roommate and friend hostage during the invasion had recommended that he be sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Jones could have sentenced Gatewood to death.

Harrison, 31, of Madison, Tenn., pleaded guilty in September to felony murder, two counts of first-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine. He received a life sentence for the murder charge and another for the kidnapping charges. He had originally been charged with capital murder and could have received the death penalty had he been convicted during trial.

Harrison will be eligible for parole at some point during his sentence.

At both sentencing hearings, Rosie Turner held up a picture of her son and told the defendants to never forget what he looked like or the suffering they have caused her family.

Gatewood, 37, of Athens, showed no emotion during his sentencing hearing as the victim's mother told him, "I want you to sit in jail or prison and rot there."

Turner's father, Arthur Turner, also chastised Gatewood.

"You didn't have to do what you did. But since you did it, I just hope that God has mercy on your soul," he said.

As he was being led from the courtroom, Gatewood again proclaimed his innocence.

"They're sending the wrong man off," he told a reporter.

During the trial, Gatewood's attorneys said it was Harrison who shot Turner.

Testifying for the prosecution in the penalty phase of Gatewood's trial, Harrison said Gatewood shot Turner.

Harrison testified that he and Gatewood went to Turner's home to collect a debt for Kelvin Larid "Blue" Hines, of Tanner. Hines pleaded guilty in March to murder and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Prosecutors argued during the trial that the debt was for cocaine Gatewood had purchased from Hines, who they said was a drug dealer.

At Friday's sentencing hearing, defense attorney Heath Trousdale, of Florence, said the prosecution failed to prove that Gatewood shot Turner and that it would be a miscarriage of justice to sentence him to death. "Execution is not appropriate for Mr. Gatewood."

Gatewood, flanked by his attorneys, stood silently as Jones announced the sentence.

"Mr. Gatewood, you are remanded to the Alabama Department of Corrections' state prison system where you will spend the rest of your natural life," Jones said.

After the hearing, Lauderdale District Attorney Chris Connolly said the sentence was appropriate.

"I'm satisfied with the result, based on the jury's recommendation," he said.

Trousdale declined comment as he left the courtroom. Arthur and Rosie Turner also declined to comment.

Turner's roommate, David Butler, testified in the trial that Gatewood and Harrison bound him with duct tape and held him and his girlfriend, Victoria Byrd, hostage while waiting on Turner to return home. Butler said he's satisfied with sentences that Gatewood and Harrison received.

"I'm just glad it's finally over and we can start trying to get our lives back in somewhat better form," Butler said. "I will never be able to forget what happened that night. It will be with me for the rest of my life."

During Gatewood's sentencing hearing, Butler said Gatewood has never offered to apologize for Turner's death or the home invasion. "You've never said you're sorry or you did it. Just say you did it and that you're sorry."

Harrison offered an apology during his sentencing hearing.

"I am honestly, truly sorry," Harrison said. "I apologize for my role that I played."

Defense attorney Jeff Austin, of Florence, told Turner's family Friday that Harrison has repeatedly expressed remorse for Turner's death. "He's truly sorry for what happened."

Harrison hugged his family and gave them goodbye kisses Friday before a sheriff's deputy led him from a courtroom to begin serving the back-to-back life sentences.

Before leaving the courthouse Friday, Gatewood vowed that he too will be released from prison some day.

"It will just come back on appeal because I didn't do it," he said.

Dennis Sherer can be reached at 740-5746 or dennis.sherer@TimesDaily.com.