A judge in Wisconsin, USA, has handed a long jail term to a man who killed a Gambian woman and seriously wounded another woman at a home for disabled people, according to the Wisconsin State Journal
Ali Hassan, 26, of Fitchburg, killed Fatoumatta Jallow, 23, in the home’s basement on 21st December 2016, and badly wounded Julie Connors, who despite being shot several times, managed to call 911.
Madison police said Jallow suffered multiple gunshot wounds to her torso and right arm while Connors had 10 bullet wounds.
Hassan was taken into custody by police a short distance away after he crashed his car into another vehicle, then fled on foot.
In January, a jury acquitted Hassan of first-degree intentional homicide for Jallow’s death and instead found him guilty of homicide by intoxicated use of a firearm. He was also convicted of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, three counts of first-degree reckless endangerment and attempted arson. He pleaded guilty to hit-and-run involving an injury.
His lawyer, Adam Welch had recommended that sentences for most of Hassan’s convictions be served concurrently, for a total of 13½ years in prison, while Assistant District Attorney Valerian Powell sought a 60-year sentence.
But Judge Josann Reynolds of Dane County Circuit said a shorter sentence made no sense.
She said Hassan appeared to have methodically carried out a plan to shoot the two women despite claiming during his trial in January that he was too intoxicated to know what he was doing and had no memory of the act.
Judge Reynolds added that said no motive for the shooting has ever been determined.
“Perhaps we may never know why Mr. Hassan took the actions that he did,” Reynolds said near the end of the four-hour hearing. But she said that shooting two women without provocation was “extremely concerning” and not knowing why creates concern that it may happen again.
During his trial, Hassan testified that he was drinking heavily that day and doesn’t remember being at the Kevins Way group home or shooting anyone. He apologized to everyone that he hurt.
“Please understand I didn’t wake up on December 21 to hurt all of the individuals involved the way I did,” he said.
“There are no excuses for my actions, and I want to do my time and to help start the healing process.”