Judge delays sentencing for mass murderer Kori Muhammad
Fresno County Superior Court Judge Jonathan Conklin delayed the sentencing of convicted, quadruple killer Kori Ali Muhammad on Friday, saying he wanted to give the victim’s families the opportunity to make a statement.
Conklin, who appeared from the courthouse via the video app Zoom, said the current COVID-19 restrictions prevented members of the victim’s families from appearing before him during Muhammad’s sentencing. The courthouse is generally closed to the public as a way to prevent the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus.
Conklin hoped that by delaying the sentencing until June 5, the health restrictions might be more relaxed to allow for greater public access.
“Mr. Muhammad has a right to a speedy sentencing hearing. Likewise, the individuals impacted by Mr. Muhammad’s conduct and impacted by the guilty finding of the jury for the counts at play have a statutory right to appear at the sentencing hearing and make statements,” Conklin said.
Muhammad, dressed in a light blue shirt and blue patterned tie, disagreed with the judge saying: “I would like to be sentenced today, your honor.”
Conklin stuck to his decision, saying he will give each person up to 10 minutes to speak. People in the courtroom will be required to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
Prosecutor Kelly Smith estimated about 25 people have asked to attend the hearing and about a dozen are expected to speak.
Muhammad, 41, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. He dodged the death penalty last month after he and his attorneys, Richard Beshwate Jr. and Antonio Alvarez, agreed to withdraw his not guilty by reason of insanity plea.
Beshwate argued during Muhammad’s trial that his client has a history of mental illness, including schizophrenia, delusions and hearing voices.
During his trial and including at Friday’s sentencing hearing, Muhammad blurted out about reparations for black people and the destruction of the United States. Muhammad and Alvarez appeared in the courtroom Friday; the judge and other attorneys in the case appeared from remote locations.
“You think COVID-19 is bad wait till you see what’s coming next,” Muhammad said, as the judge cut him off from saying more.
The jury convicted Muhammad on April 22 of first degree murder in the death of David Jackson, 58, who was fatally shot on April 18, 2017 outside of Catholic Charities on Fulton Street. Muhammad’s two other victims that day were Mark Gassett, 37, and 34-year-old Zackary Randalls.
Muhammad was found guilty of second degree murder for the killing of security guard Carl Williams III, 25, at a Motel 6 in central Fresno five days earlier.
The jury also found him guilty of four counts of attempted murder, discharging a gun into a home, and being a felon in possession of gun.
During his trial Muhammad never denied killing the four men.
He told police in an interview that he was angry about feeling disrespected because he was black and vowed to take out his revenge on white men. All four of Muhammad’s victims were white.
