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Springers' killer gets life
Earlier this month, Szakal was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the shooting deaths of the couple in their Carroll Township home on March 4, 2008. The couple were fine metals dealers who had previously purchased items from Szakal.
A jury also found Szakal, 27, guilty of two counts each of robbery and criminal conspiracy, and one count each of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.
On Wednesday, Washington County Judge Debbie O'Dell Seneca sentenced Szakal to two concurrent terms of life in prison followed by a consecutive 20 to 40 years in prison on one of the robbery convictions.
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At the sentencing hearing, the Springers' daughter, Jill Danish of Venetia, described her parents as the best people in the world. She told the judge there are "no adequate words to describe the pain and grief" she and her family have felt since their deaths.
Danish tearfully said the murders have taken an emotional and physical toll on her life and asked the judge to exercise her full authority in punishing Szakal for her parents' deaths.
Meanwhile, Christine Springer, wife of the Springers' son, Chad, read statements from both herself and her husband.
In Chad Springer's statement, he said his entire body shut down when he learned of his parents' deaths during a telephone call from his sister.
Like his sister, Chad Springer, who resides in Philadelphia with his wife and young daughter, said he loved his parents and always wanted to make them proud. He loved coming home and spending time with them while remembering vacations and time together with his family.
"You never accept it (the Springers' deaths), but you learn to accommodate it," he wrote.
Now, he dreads thoughts of life without them and how they will never know his daughter who was born after the murders.
Christine Springer said her in-laws were "genuine, loving and honest."
And while Szakal said he was sorry for their deaths when he testified during the trial, she said sorry doesn't fit the circumstances.
Prior to his client's sentencing, attorney Noah Geary asked the judge for some leniency, specifically pointing out that there were questions that arose during the trial that went unanswered.
"There are still things about this case that are troubling me," he said.
Specifically, Geary referred to co-defendant Tecko Tartt's inability to explain his whereabouts the night of the murders and why Tartt went into hiding for a month afterwards. Geary added that he still can't understand why the prosecution never made Tartt produce the murder weapon that he allegedly provided Szakal and that was then returned.
At trial, Geary claimed that while Szakal agreed to rob the Springers, he never meant to harm them nor was he the one who killed them. Instead, Geary believes it was Tartt who murdered the Springers.
O'Dell Seneca told Szakal that he should be thankful for his court-appointed attorneys, including Geary and Erin Dickerson, because it was "those two people who saved you from your worst fate."
If Szakal had been convicted of first-degree murder, the prosecution intended to seek the death penalty against him.
However, O'Dell Seneca said she believed from early on that "this was a second-degree felony murder case." And, she believes that trial could have been avoided if an offer had been made to Szakal to plead to second-degree murder.
The judge commended the jury for so diligently coming to what she believes was the correct verdict.
In retrospect, O'Dell Seneca chastised Szakal for his actions that resulted from drug use and addiction.
"Drugs may be a factor in this case, but it's no excuse," she said. "None of it makes sense to me."
She also told Szakal that she hopes he spends the rest of his life thinking about what he has done, especially to people who he said were always kind to him.
"Because of you, two very fine, innocent contributors to society were snuffed out," O'Dell Seneca said. "I hope the dear Lord sees you in a different light than I do."
Following sentencing, Geary and Dickerson said they plan to appeal Szakal's conviction, and they believe they have a very good chance at getting it overturned.
"I've never had so many great issues heading into an appeal," said Geary. "I feel good about our appeal possibilities."
All of Szakal's co-defendants accepted plea deals for the roles they played in the murders.
Earlier this week, Tartt, 22, was sentenced to 71/2 to 15 years in prison; Justin Welch, 22, of Charleroi, who helped Szakal hatch the robbery scheme, was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison; and Gregory Carpenter, 54, formerly of Donora, was sentenced to 2 to 4 years in prison.
Related articles:
Judge sentences co-defendants who reached plea deals in Springer slayings
Charleroi man gets 2 to 4 years in connection with Springer slayings
Szakal guilty in double killing
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: 10/29/2009
thank god justice was done!
A Good Judge : 10/29/2009
Much is said about the Honorable Debbie Odell Seneca that is dammins and disrespectful. But we here in Washington County can be proud to have the President Judge that we do. I am glad this case was in her hands!
Springers' killer gets life : 10/29/2009
What goes around ALWAYS comes around. Good for him exactly what he deserves! Time they stop slappin these thugs on the hand. Hope you enjoy life without all the FREEDOM we enjoy. Kudo's police, courts and all.
Justice? : 11/6/2009
The inept DA's office was gunning for the death penalty, but couldn't convince the jury that Szakal was actually the one who committed the murders. Szakal ended up with life, but the thug who apparently brutalized these two people could be out as soon as 7 and a half years. This is justice?
