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| Georgia man jailed for life for shooting baby | Georgia man jailed for life for shooting baby |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A US teenage robber who counted down to shoot a baby dead after his mother refused to hand over her purse has been jailed for life without parole. | A US teenage robber who counted down to shoot a baby dead after his mother refused to hand over her purse has been jailed for life without parole. |
| De'Marquise Elkins, 18, shot 13-month-old Antonio Santiago, who was in a pushchair, between the eyes on 21 March this year in the US state of Georgia. | De'Marquise Elkins, 18, shot 13-month-old Antonio Santiago, who was in a pushchair, between the eyes on 21 March this year in the US state of Georgia. |
| Elkins was spared the death penalty as he was 17 at the time. He showed no emotion as he was sentenced. | Elkins was spared the death penalty as he was 17 at the time. He showed no emotion as he was sentenced. |
| The mother of the dead child said Elkins had taken "the love of my life". | The mother of the dead child said Elkins had taken "the love of my life". |
| During Thursday's sentencing, the judge gave Elkins the maximum sentence. | |
| He imposed an additional 105 years in prison on other charges, including 30 years for shooting and wounding a pastor outside his church 10 days before the killing. | He imposed an additional 105 years in prison on other charges, including 30 years for shooting and wounding a pastor outside his church 10 days before the killing. |
| Baby Antonio's murder appalled the nation, forcing Elkins' trial to be moved more than 300 miles (482 km) away from Brunswick, Georgia, to the Atlanta suburbs. | Baby Antonio's murder appalled the nation, forcing Elkins' trial to be moved more than 300 miles (482 km) away from Brunswick, Georgia, to the Atlanta suburbs. |
| 'Cruel and unusual punishment' | 'Cruel and unusual punishment' |
| The jury in the town of Marietta, Georgia, last month found him guilty on 11 counts, including two counts of felony murder and one count of malice murder. | |
| During the trial, prosecutors said Elkins had approached Antonio and his mother, Sherry West, to demand cash. | During the trial, prosecutors said Elkins had approached Antonio and his mother, Sherry West, to demand cash. |
| When she refused, Elkins twice threatened her baby and counted down from five as Ms West pleaded that she had no money. | When she refused, Elkins twice threatened her baby and counted down from five as Ms West pleaded that she had no money. |
| She tried to cover her child with her arms as the gunman fired a warning shot, a bullet into her leg and then shot her baby. | |
| On Thursday, Ms West delivered a victim statement, made to rhyme like a poem, about the loss of her son. | On Thursday, Ms West delivered a victim statement, made to rhyme like a poem, about the loss of her son. |
| "His first word was never heard. His first sentence was never said," she told the court through tears. "He never got to sleep in a toddler bed." | |
| Defence lawyer Kevin Gough said afterwards that the sentence had been harsh. | Defence lawyer Kevin Gough said afterwards that the sentence had been harsh. |
| "Life without parole for a juvenile, our position remains, is cruel and unusual punishment," he said. | "Life without parole for a juvenile, our position remains, is cruel and unusual punishment," he said. |
| The defence team said Elkins had been neglected by a mother who struggled with drug abuse and sometimes left him home alone without food. | |
| Another youth, 15-year-old Dominique Lang, is to be tried later. | Another youth, 15-year-old Dominique Lang, is to be tried later. |