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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- September 27, 2019
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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Victims
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During a hearing Sept. 27, a murder defendant was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
David Hackney, 59, pleaded guilty to second-degree-murder while armed for stabbing 46-year-old Chester Belfield on the 1000 block of Southern Avenue, SE on April 13.
Hackney accepted a plea deal in July which recommended a sentence of 15 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. DC Superior Court Judge Milton C. Lee, Jr. accepted that deal.
Members of Belfield’s family were present during sentencing. Belfield’s wife gave a written statement which the prosecutor read aloud to the court. The statement said Belfield was “my soulmate, my best friend.”
She also described the financial and emotional hardships that her family has been suffering since losing the Belfield.
“We will never be the same,” Belfield’s mother said.
Before sentencing Hackney, Judge Lee said his children, especially his daughter, had spoken so highly of him during earlier hearings. “I don’t know where that person was that day. If you had been that person that day, we wouldn’t be here,” Judge Lee said.