Mardi Gras killer given 15-year prison sentence

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The rampage that was Mardi Gras in Pioneer Square a year ago came to a close in one sense yesterday as Jerell Thomas was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the beating death of Kristopher Kime.

Kime, 20, died of injuries suffered at the hands of Thomas, an attack captured by television cameras during the 2001 Fat Tuesday celebration.

After the sentencing by King County Superior Court Judge Anthony P. Wartnik, Kime's father, Ken Kime, said he and his family are glad it's over.

"I'm very relieved," Kime said as he left the courtroom. "We've (he and his family) been holding this for a year."

Kime said the 15-year sentence was a "fair judgment," although he was disappointed Thomas wasn't given the maximum sentence of 22 years.

The judge considered Thomas' character but "didn't take Kristopher's character into consideration," Ken Kime said.

Kristopher's mother, Kim Kime-Parks, said she was disappointed. "He (Thomas) deserved a lot more than that," she said.

Thomas' mother, Theresa Thomas, said it was "a no-win situation." Earlier, in court, she expressed pain over Kime's death at the hands of her son.

When she heard that her son was involved in the assault, "it felt like someone reached inside of me and squeezed my heart so hard that the pain is still unbearable."

"And I can't imagine what it feels like for the Kime family," Theresa Thomas said. "He (Jerell) was raised with love. If he was given another chance he would not go down that road again."

Benita McKinion, Thomas' aunt, pleaded that Thomas is not a "throw-away child" who deserves a long prison term. "I know he is sorry for everything he did that night," she said.

Moreover, Kirsten Kime, 17, Kristopher Kime's sister, tearfully told the judge that Thomas deserved a long sentence because he took his anger out on "people he didn't even know. He should never be out on the street.

"He (Thomas) took my brother away from the rest of our family. He doesn't deserve to be around his family," Kirsten Kime said.

Thomas, 18, was found guilty of second-degree murder. The sentencing range for the crime is 13 years and nine months to about 22 years.

The prosecutor's office recommended 20 years on the murder count, plus 10 months each for two other counts of assault committed during the same fighting spree at Mardi Gras.

Defense attorney Jeff Cohen argued for a short sentence, pointing out that Thomas had been raised without a father, suffered from learning disabilities and didn't receive medication needed to help tame his anger.

Cohen said the punches Thomas used on Kime were the kind that most often lead to misdemeanor charges, like many others thrown during the Mardi Gras fighting.

"There is no evidence that Jerell intended to cause the death of Kristopher Kime," he said.

For his part, Thomas said he was sorry.

"I feel sorry for the Kime family and for my family for taking them through this," he said in a quiet voice.

Some said racism was involved in the Mardi Gras attacks. But Wartnik said he found no evidence of racism in the attack on Kime.

"It was an irrational, deadly act," Wartnik said.

Dave Birkland can be reached at 206-464-2204 or at dbirkland@seattletimes.com.