‘Only God Can Judge Me,’ Man Says During Sentencing

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

A murder defendant told a judge that only God could judge him.

Astriane Horton pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed and obstruction of justice for allegedly shooting 30-year-old Deon “Face” Coleman on the 4700 block of Brandywine Street, SW in 2008. Horton says he and Coleman were best friends.

Horton spoke for an extended period in front of the court and Coleman’s family when he mentioned that, “no one knew the circumstances behind what happened except the people that were there.”

Horton also said that he recognizes that jail isn’t where he is supposed to be but that he’s helped a lot of people while he’s been incarcerated over the last four years and will continue to do so.

“Deon didn’t deserve this. Especially, not from someone who called himself his best friend,” Coleman’s sister said.

The prosecutor said that she hoped Horton was on his way to turning his life around but also said that while reading the defense team’s pre-sentencing memorandum she came across some “alarming” things.

She said Baker’s defense attorney, Ronald Resetartis, said Horton’s upbringing and that it was difficult for him to escape the life which could have potentially lead to the killing.

“There are plenty of people who grow up in worse situations than Horton and still managed not to kill people,” the prosecutor said.

The parties agreed on a 20-year sentence. Members from Coleman’s family said they were not happy with the sentence.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson accepted the agreed upon conditions and sentenced Horton to 20 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release.