Defendant Receives 6 Life Sentences for Murder

By D.C. Witness Staff - September 27, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A murder defendant received six life sentences without the possibility of parole in addition to several lesser sentences for the murder of an out of town artist.

El Hadji Alpha Madiou Toure, also known as Elie Brown, was convicted on 13 counts, including first-degree murder while armed, first-degree sexual abuse, kidnapping while armed and robbery while armed, for stabbing Corrina Mehiel on the 600 block of 14th Street, NE in 2017. According to court documents, Mehiel’s stab wounds were consistent with torture.

“Toure is an evil being… I know life in prison is the best we can hope for,” Mehiel’s aunt said in a victim impact statement.  “Toure losing his life would be more just, to me.”

More than 20 friends and members of Mehiel’s family were present at the sentencing on Sept. 26. Nearly all of the victim’s family members were brought to tears at some point. According to DC Superior Court Judge Juliet Mckenna, approximately 23 written victim impact statements were filed; six were read during the sentencing. 

The prosecution asked the judge to give Toure the maximum sentence which one of the attorneys said they do not ask for often, adding that Toure had shown no remorse. 

“This was not a split second decision,” said one prosecutor. “He watched her. He stalked her like an animal stalking his prey.”

D.C. Witness previously reported, Toure watched Mehiel, 34, while she was loading her car outside of her apartment before proceeding to take her hostage, according to the prosecution’s theory.

Mehiel’s arms and legs were bound with shirts and leggings before she was raped and stabbed to death, according to the medical examiner. What happened next was “is literally the definition of torture,” according to the prosecution.  

According to the medical examiner, Mehiel’s death was not instant and she may have lived for up to an hour after sustaining her injuries. Mehiel was stabbed more than 37 times in the neck according to the prosecution, but the medical examiner could not account for the number of stab wounds which contributed to a “gaping hole” in her neck. 

“It was a personal nightmare I worry about and I’m sure many other women worry about,” said Mehiel’s aunt. “But Corrina lived it… I can only hope her senses were dulled quickly with shock.”

Of Toure’s six life sentences, five were for murder charges and one was for first degree sexual abuse. He also received three 30 year sentences, three eight year sentences and one three year sentence for various charges including kidnapping while armed, first degree robbery while armed and identity theft.  

“This world was bright with hope with sweet Corrina in it,” said Mehiel’s stepmother in her victim impact statement. “She was nothing to him, as any other woman would have been. His choice to kidnap, rape, torture and brutally stab Corrina to death is his legacy.”

In the days following Mehiel’s death, surveillance footage shows a man who the prosecution believed to be Toure using Mehiel’s ATM card to withdraw a total of $4000 from multiple ATMS. According to the prosecution, Toure also stole Mehiel’s camera which was very important to her and the art she created. 

In addition to her photography, Mehiel worked on a number of art projects using materials unwanted by others, including abandoned bikes and nonfunctional parking meters. According to her cousin Mehiel “created beautiful art in neglected spaces.” 

Mehiel was visiting Washington, DC to work as a project assistant at The George Washington University’s Corcoran School of the Arts and Design. Mehiel planned to leave the District the day after she died. 

“She lived with my family and took care of us as we took care of her,” said Mehiel’s friend and mentor in his victim impact statement. “I meet students every day and I do not dare get close to them because of this loss.”

Toure’s defense attorney, Jason Clark asked that Judge McKenna sentence Toure to 30 years, the minimum required by sentencing guidelines bearing in mind difficulties in his past.

Instead, Judge McKenna passed down the most severe sentences available, in light of the brutality of the crime and Toure’s criminal history.

“Mr. Toure’s actions in abducting Ms. Mehiel and torturing her for nearly three hours were cold,” Judge McKenna said.