Decatur man convicted of murder appeals life sentencing for the 2nd time
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Two weeks after a Decatur man was sentenced to life in prison, he was back in the courtroom on Wednesday. Sitting in front of the judge who sentenced him, he was asking the judge to reconsider the severity of the sentence.
The judge didn't, upholding the original sentence.
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A jury convicted Raheim Davis on two counts of first-degree murder in December, finding that the State had proven he killed Karlondus Thomas and Andrell O'Neal in July of 2023. Following that conviction, Judge Thomas Griffith heard and rejected a motion to grant Davis a new trial or overturn the jury's verdict. He sentenced the 30-year-old to life behind bars on Feb. 5.
Davis filed the motion to reconsider upon being sentenced and a hearing was scheduled in two weeks' time. On Wednesday, Griffith rejected his latest motion, saying he had considered the facts presented in the court case and the factors in 'aggravation and mitigation and the Pre Sentence Investigation Report.'
Finding that Davis' actions resulted in two people losing their lives, Griffith said he had no other option but to impose a life sentence.
Davis, however, is not giving up on trying to reduce the time he spends in prison. He filed another appeal to the Illinois Appellate Court, with the Office of the State Appellate Defender appointed to represent him.
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