OHIO — (CNN) A major eruption in a Cuyahoga County courtroom Thursday afternoon. After a judge sentenced serial killer Michael Madison to die, family members were allowed to address the court and killer.
The father of victim Shirellda Terry, Van Terry, said, “I know I’m supposed to forgive you.” In the middle of his victim’s statement, Terry suddenly paused and appeared to belly flop onto the area where Michael Madison was sitting with his attorneys.
No one was seriously injured in the scuffle.
Sheriff’s deputies later escorted Terry out of the courthouse. They say he will probably not face any charges after launching himself at the convicted serial killer. Terry family members said Madison was smiling at them during their final testimonies.
Shirellda Terry is one of three of Madison’s victims who was raped, tortured and killed. Her body found, like that of two other women wrapped in a garbage bag, her body folded in half.
The Cuyahoga County judge agreed with a jury who thought Madison should die by lethal injection.
Madison’s attorneys argued that he shouldn’t get a death sentence because of psychological damage caused by child abuse.
Van Terry’s sister, who is also Shirellda Terry’s aunt, later spoke to Cleveland 19 saying that Van Terry just couldn’t take Madison’s lack of remorse anymore.
“He was upset because when he is telling you that he lost his baby, his baby girl. That’s his baby. His heaven. That’s his slice of heaven. He’s sitting over there smiling like, ‘yeah.’ Even when she was speaking. The mom’s back was turned. He went like this,” said Sonya Richardson making a gesture with her hand similar to what she says she saw Madison make. Richardson says it looked like Madison was just brushing off their heartfelt comments about Shirellda.
Madison was found guilty of killing 38-year-old Angela Deskins, 28-year-old Shetisha Sheeley and 18-year-old Shirellda Terry. Their bodies were found in July 2013 near the East Cleveland apartment building where Madison lived.
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