Federal Prosecutors Seek Life Sentence For Final Defendant In Fatal Firebombing
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Federal prosecutors say it is as vicious and disturbing as any crime of violence ever perpetrated in the long history of the City of Philadelphia. And today, authorities are seeking a life sentence for the final defendant convicted at trial.
It was a crime that shook the city and the justice system. Six people died in the 2004 firebombing, ordered from prison by a convicted drug kingpin trying to silence witnesses.
Kaboni Savage was convicted of ordering the firebombing and planning and committing other murders. He was sentenced to death.
Complete Coverage Of Kaboni Savage Fire
Today, Robert Merritt will be sentenced. The jury found Merritt actually started the fire. The victims included the mother and infant son of a witness against Savage, as well as three other children.
Two other co-defendants, Savage's sister and another man already have been sentenced to life in the case.