Date posted: 4-12-01

Editors: You are encouraged to use this story in your publication. Please credit the author and DeKalb News Service as shown. And, please send TWO tearsheets to: Jim Killam, Department of Communication, Watson Hall, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115.

By Hank Brockett

DeKalb News Service

SYCAMORE -- On April 10, Yaphet Davis walked into Courtroom 204 of the DeKalb County Courthouse, smiling at friends and nodding at loved ones.

Three hours later, Judge Douglas Engel sentenced Davis to 32 years in prison for the 1999 shooting of Eddie Hall on Crane Drive near University Plaza.

Davis, 25, killed Hall in the early afternoon of Oct. 9, 1999 after a weekend of altercations between the two. On Feb. 15, a jury found Davis guilty of first-degree murder.

Engel heard from Davis' friends and family, as well as several corrections officers, before sentencing him.

While the 32 years fell between the requests of the defense and the state's attorneys, the number took its toll on Davis' mother, Diana Cooper. Over the terse instructions issued to Davis, she broke down, crying "My baby!" as the courtroom emptied.

Before Engel's decision, Davis spoke on his own behalf, reaffirming his religious faith and thanking family and friends for filling the courtroom.

"I'm sorry for what happened to Eddie Hall," said Davis. "... What God has for me is for me."

Assistant State's Attorney Joe Pedersen argued that because of Davis' history of losing his temper and breaking the law, he would be a threat to society for some time. Pedersen asked for 40 years in prison, halfway between the required 20 to 60 years.

"The defendant executed Eddie Hall by shooting him in the back as he ran away," Pedersen said. "Justice demands that Yaphet Davis serve a sentence that is proportionate to the crime."

Defense attorney Glenn Jazwiec used a string of friends as character witnesses, attempting to establish Davis as a spiritual leader at peace with himself and others. Jazwiec asked for the minimum 20 years.

In his closing statement, Jazwiec continually referred to Davis' stressed state, caused when Hall and his friends allegedly held Davis and others hostage before the shooting.

That incident occurred after Davis allegedly broke the window of Hall's friend's car with a liquor bottle. Hall was shot after Davis' friends came to exchange the damage money for Davis' freedom.

"He didn't have the luxury of thinking clearly," Jazwiec said.

Before Davis' case, officials settled the last of the other related cases in the shooting. Damion Abrams, with Davis at the time of the shooting and the one who brought him the gun, pleaded guilty to aggravated discharge of a firearm and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Charges were dropped against Tamika Hobson, Davis' girlfriend at the time of the shooting.
Abrams in particular proved to be a damaging witness in the case. His first-person account against Davis came after an agreement with the State's Attorney's Office.

Before Tuesday's sentencing, Jazwiec asked for a retrial for Davis, who is black, on the grounds that no one on the jury or in the jury pool was black. Also, Jazwiec claimed some state evidence was admitted incorrectly. Engel denied the request.

Under the truth-in-sentencing law, Davis must serve all of his 32 years at the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Source list:
· DeKalb County State's Attorney's Office - 815-895-7164