onewarrior5
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LOS ANGELES -- James Butler, a boxer who fought under the nickname "The Harlem Hammer," pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and arson Monday in the 2004 death of a freelance sports writer.
Butler will be sentenced to 29 years, four months in prison by Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor on April 5, according to Deputy Public Defender Jack Keenan.
The 32-year-old fighter entered his plea as jury selection was set to begin in his trial for the killing of Sam Kellerman, who was the 29-year-old brother of boxing expert Max Kellerman, an ESPN Radio show host in New York.
"I think it's a fair resolution of the case," Keenan said. "He's always been sorry for what he did, and in the end he thought of Sam Kellerman as a friend."
Butler faced about 34 years in prison had he gone to trial and been convicted of murder, Keenan said.
Kellerman's body was found in his Hollywood apartment on Oct. 17, 2004, although authorities believe he had been killed five days earlier. He had been bludgeoned around the head about 30 times while sitting at his desktop computer, police said. A hammer was found near Kellerman's body, his car was missing and his apartment was set on fire, police said.
Sam Kellerman was a freelance writer who covered pro boxing. He and Butler were friends and the boxer had been staying at Kellerman's apartment since late September, police said.
Butler has a pro record of 20-5. He is best known for sucker-punching opponent Richard Grant in November 2001 after losing a charity bout.
If anyone remembers some time back.James Butler fought on ESPN friday night fights and after he lost the fight he sucker punched richard grant and was laid out cold.He was escorted by Police and arrested.This is the same ANIMAL who beat sam Kellerman(brother of max kellerman) to deather with a hammer and try to cover up the crime by setting the apartment on fire.What a piece of sh*t.The sad part about this whole story is why the f**k did he not get life in prison for this.Who in their right mind would want this animal on the street.he should have gotten life with NO PAROLE or the death penalty as far as I am concerned.What a joke the legal system has become.
Butler will be sentenced to 29 years, four months in prison by Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor on April 5, according to Deputy Public Defender Jack Keenan.
The 32-year-old fighter entered his plea as jury selection was set to begin in his trial for the killing of Sam Kellerman, who was the 29-year-old brother of boxing expert Max Kellerman, an ESPN Radio show host in New York.
"I think it's a fair resolution of the case," Keenan said. "He's always been sorry for what he did, and in the end he thought of Sam Kellerman as a friend."
Butler faced about 34 years in prison had he gone to trial and been convicted of murder, Keenan said.
Kellerman's body was found in his Hollywood apartment on Oct. 17, 2004, although authorities believe he had been killed five days earlier. He had been bludgeoned around the head about 30 times while sitting at his desktop computer, police said. A hammer was found near Kellerman's body, his car was missing and his apartment was set on fire, police said.
Sam Kellerman was a freelance writer who covered pro boxing. He and Butler were friends and the boxer had been staying at Kellerman's apartment since late September, police said.
Butler has a pro record of 20-5. He is best known for sucker-punching opponent Richard Grant in November 2001 after losing a charity bout.
If anyone remembers some time back.James Butler fought on ESPN friday night fights and after he lost the fight he sucker punched richard grant and was laid out cold.He was escorted by Police and arrested.This is the same ANIMAL who beat sam Kellerman(brother of max kellerman) to deather with a hammer and try to cover up the crime by setting the apartment on fire.What a piece of sh*t.The sad part about this whole story is why the f**k did he not get life in prison for this.Who in their right mind would want this animal on the street.he should have gotten life with NO PAROLE or the death penalty as far as I am concerned.What a joke the legal system has become.
