Detroit Man Gets 30-60 Years Behind Bars In French Street Artist's Murder
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A 21-year-old Detroit man convicted in the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old French street artist has been sentenced to up to 60 years in prison.
The 30- to 60-year sentence for Dionte Travis was issued Thursday by Wayne County Circuit Judge Bruce Morrow. Travis was found guilty of murder last month in the killing of Bilal Berreni of Paris.
The story made national headlines when Berreni's body was found July 29, 2013, outside the dilapidated Frederick Douglass Homes — more commonly known as the Brewster projects, which have since been demolished.
No identification or passport was found on Berreni, who'd been shot in the face, and it took state police months to identify him through fingerprints. According to family members, the young artist — who painted large pieces in black and white on buildings — occasionally lived as a squatter in vacant structures.
Travis was convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to 16 to 40 years. At his first trial the jury couldn't reach a verdict on the murder charge.
Co-defendants Drequone Rich, 21, and Jasin Curtis, 19, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Rich is serving 23 to 40 years, while Curtis is serving 25 to 40. Another suspect who was 13 at the time of the killing was convicted of murder and is set to be sentenced later this month.
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