Judge Delivers Stiff Sentence In Beating Caught On Tape
DETROIT (WWJ) - A Detroit man has been sentenced to at least 60 years in prison for a crime that outraged the community.
Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Jackson called Christopher Elledge a "beast" and sent a message to any court of appeals that might consider overturning his stiff sentence for the 49-year-old man convicted in the beating and robbery of a 70-year-old woman in her Detroit apartment building.
The beating was caught on tape.
"Look at that video ... look at the photographs of Miss. Smith at the time that she was in the hospital," said Jackson at sentencing on Monday.
"Look at the vicious attack, you know, where this defendant opened this door and, without hesitation or pause, immediately, as indicated by the prosecution, braces himself with one hand and hit Miss. Smith in the face and head and she falls," Jackson said.
Elledge attacked Annie Smith in a hallway June 28.
Footage from a video camera shows Smith opening an exterior door to the building on East Jefferson Avenue and letting a man inside. Once inside, she was punched and knocked to the floor.
In court Monday, Smith has a chance to address her attacker for the first time.
"I have wanted to ask him, why did he beat me the way he did? You beat me, you beat me and beat me," Smith said.
Her bridge card and a credit card were stolen. A citizen's tip led to Elledge's arrest.
