Teen gets 30 years for sword murder

A teen accused of killing his stepfather with a sword was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Quintell Deshon Hardy, 18, entered a “best-interest” plea to the second degree murder of his stepfather Keith Williams, 37. That plea does not contest the charges against him and has the same legal weight as admitting guilt.

District Attorney Bill Whitesell said Hardy stabbed Williams in the chest with a 30-inch samurai-style sword on May 25, 2005, after the two argued.

Hardy, who was 17 at the time of the murder, initially told police someone broke into the house and killed his stepfather. Police did not find his story credible, and he was charged with first-degree murder.

Hardy will serve about 25 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole.

Whitesell offered Hardy the reduced second-degree murder conviction because prosecutors were concerned a jury might sympathize with Hardy because of his young age.

“This way we get a sure sentence,” Whitesell said.

Assistant Public Defender Ray White said Williams battered Hardy.

“Based on his childhood, he and his stepfather had obvious hostility toward each other,” White said.

Williams’ mother, Deborah Williams Jenkins, called Hardy a “teen out of control.”