A Detroit man who will spend life in prison for the execution-style murder of two Westland teenagers caused quite a stir during sentencing this week.
Fredrick Young (left) and Felando Hunter (right) were convicted after a jury found them guilty for robbing, torturing, and murdering Jourdan Bobbish and friend Jacob Kudla two years ago. The two teens went missing in July 2012 after going to Detroit to buy drugs. Days later their bodies were discovered in a field.
But following emotional impact statements from the victims’ families, Young refused to apologize to the teens’ relatives, instead saying this:
“I’d like to say sorry to the families of Aiyanna Jones, Michael Brown, Eric Garner,” Young said. “And I want to apologize to them for not being able to get justice for their loved ones who was murdered in cold blood – and in respect for the peaceful protest, I want to say hands up don’t shoot. Black lives matter – that’s it your honor.”
The court room reportedly reacted in disbelief, according to the MyFoxDetroit. That did not, however, stop the families from sending messages of forgiveness and positivity.
“In the end – knowing who Jourdan was, I believe he would want me to offer forgiveness,” Carrie Bobbish said. “Although I know I may struggle with that endeavor for the rest of my life, it would be what Jourdan would want.”
“On behalf of Jourdan and myself, I will pray for forgiveness for both of you.”
“Everything just aches and it’s just a totally senseless crime,” said Mike Bobbish, Jourdan’s father. “And how you could march someone out in the middle of a field and execute them – we’re not a third world country. Sometimes I wish it did happen in a third world country because it would be a lot different outcome of this whole thing.”
Virgie Kudla, Jacob’s mother then spoke.
“Not only did the defendant take away my son’s future,” she said. “He took away my future – my future as a mother – my future as a grandmother.”
“I have sorrow in my heart, soul and every fiber of my being today and I will carry that with me for the rest of my life here on earth,” said Carrie Bobbish, Jourdan’s mother.
Both Young and Hunter were charged with first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree felony murder, torture, armed robbery, unlawful imprisonment and felony firearm. The two received 50 to 75 years for torture, and 50 to 75 year for armed robbery.
Hunter was also found guilty of two other murders a few weeks after Bobbish and Kudla were killed.
Hunter did not make a statement.
SOURCE: MyFoxDetroit, Detroit News | PHOTO CREDIT: Screengrab
