Apr 29, 2005  |  By: EARTHA MELZE  | COMMENTS     

Family and friends of slain D.C. gay rights activist Wanda Alston wept openly as William M. Parrott Jr. entered the packed courtroom of D.C. Superior Court Judge Judith Retchin wearing an orange jumpsuit on April 21.

Claiming that he did not know why he killed her, but that he wanted to take responsibility for his actions, Parrott pled guilty to second-degree murder while armed in the March 16 stabbing death of Alston, the mayor’s Special Assistant for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Affairs, a cabinet-level post.

Parrott, 38, spoke in a soft voice and at one point nodded at his wife who sat in the front row.

In response to questions from Judge Retchin, Parrott affirmed that he was mentally sound, pleading guilty of his own fee will, and that he understood that a guilty plea means that he will not have a trial or an opportunity to appeal.

John Cummings from the U.S. Attorney’s Office read out the evidence against Parrott and then Judge Retchin asked Parrott to describe the day of Alston’s murder in his own words.

Parrott said that on the morning of March 16, while high on crack cocaine, alcohol and marijuana, he took a kitchen knife from his home and walked to Alston’s residence two doors away. Parrott said that while armed with the knife he jumped on Alston and later took her keys and returned to his house to change his clothes, “because they felt wet.” Parrott said that he then drove aimlessly in Alston’s car and used her credit cards, which he discovered in her wallet in the car, to sell gas to people. He used the profits from these sales to buy more crack, he said.

Second-degree murder while armed is punishable by a maximum of 40 years in prison. Under voluntary sentencing guidelines, judges usually sentence people guilty of this crime to 12 to 24 years in prison.

Parrott was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole.

Last week Brett Parson of the D.C. Metro Police Gay & Lesbian Unit told the Blade that Parrott’s history of drug use and his statement to police that he was high on crack at the time of the murder could have prompted a jury to acquit him of a first-degree murder charge because prosecutors would have to prove premeditation.

But according to instructions given to D.C. juries in murder cases, first-degree felony murder does not require intent. The jury instructions say any killing, even if done without intent to kill and even if accidental, is murder in the first degree if done while committing or attempting to commit a felony.

Juries considering first-degree murder charges are also instructed that second-degree murder is a lesser and included offense that may be considered if the jury does not find the defendant guilty of first-degree murder.

Second-degree murder requires that the defendant had the specific intent to kill or seriously injure the decedent, or acted in conscious disregard for extreme danger to another person.

Sentencing set for July
The judge set July 29 for sentencing and will consider victim impact statements in deciding how to sentence Parrott.

“Today’s pre-indictment guilty plea of second-degree murder while armed — achieved within five weeks of her death — ensures the certainty of a conviction and exposes the defendant to a significant period of incarceration,” United States Attorney Kenneth L. Wainstein stated after the hearing. “We trust that today’s developments will allow the family and friends to begin the healing process.”

Alston’s friends and family were in obvious emotional distress throughout the proceedings.

Several friends have commented on the challenge of finding justice in a case of senseless violence.

“Truthfully, I think it should be life,” Rev. Rainey Cheeks said. Cheeks, a longtime HIV/AIDS activist and minister, worked with Alston on community and church activities.

“It’s hard for me because I believe in forgiveness and grace and all that but I believe that Wanda’s life was worth more than 12 years. I believe in rehabilitation and in people getting their lives together … but this was not in self-defense, this was conscious murder. It’s senseless.”

Cheeks said he felt that a 12-year sentence would send the wrong message.

“I’m very aware that our prison system is a major industry. ...