Thursday, November 20, 2003
The victim was happy the last time her family saw her, her mother said.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A mother asked her daughter's killer to remember the victim's children when he sees his own.
Sabrina Fisher spoke Monday in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court before Tremaine P. Brown was sentenced for shooting his girlfriend, Tawanna Thomas, 21, outside their Stansbury Drive apartment June 18.
Brown was convicted of shooting Thomas in the head as she lay in a car. He then pulled Thomas from the vehicle and drove off.
Fisher told Brown, "I will pray for you. I know the Lord will take care of you for what you did."
Jeffrey Limbian, an assistant county prosecutor, said Thomas was married, had two children, and was thinking about getting back with her husband when she was murdered.
Brown, 25, has at least four children, Limbian said.
'Carefree' dinner
Fisher said the last time her daughter had dinner with her family, she was "so happy and carefree."
But she asked Brown to think about her grandchildren whenever he sees his children or receives photographs and letters from them while he is in prison.
"You took some other kids' mother," Fisher said.
The victim's mother said she had nothing against Brown's family.
"My Tawanna is resting now and is at peace," she added.
Judge James C. Evans asked Brown if he had anything to say before sentencing. Brown said, "No, sir."
"Your lack of remorse is significant," Judge Evans said.
Judge Evans sentenced Brown to 15 years to life on the murder charge and a three-year mandatory sentence for using a gun. Under state law, Brown must first serve the weapon sentence before the life sentence begins.