A Richmond County judge sentenced two men on Friday morning, May 31, for a 2020 double homicide and armed robbery resulting in the death of a barber and customer on Eve Street.
Occurring on Nov. 23, 2020, Kazarie Middleton, now 21, and Cortez Bernard Berry, currently 27, attacked 48-year-old Meguel Freeman and 34-year-old Wyman K. Scott at the Johnson’s Beauty and Barbershop, located in the Harrisburg Community.
The victims received multiple gunshot wounds by Middleton and Berry.
Family members said they were heartbroken to know their loved ones were executed just days before Thanksgiving.
“There are no words to really go with the pain, and the tears, and the emotions that our families have gone through for the last three and a half years,” Robyn Freeman, surviving wife of Meguel Freeman, said… “they took what Meguel had to give to the community.”
Following a lengthy trial, which resulted in guilty verdicts on all counts, Judge Amanda Heath sentenced both Middleton and Berry to two consecutive life sentences in prison without parole for malice and felony murder.
“It’s a very heavy situation. It’s a situation that sadly we see far too often in our community,” Heath said.
In addition to the life sentences, Berry will also serve two five year consecutive sentences for possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Middleton will also serve two five years consecutive sentences for unlawful possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and a concurrent 10 year sentence for theft for receiving stolen property.
Prior to Heath’s announcing Middleton and Berry’s sentences, family members of both victims spoke to appeal to the judge for life without parole.
Robyn Freeman, a local teacher, said her husband was “so much more than a barber from Eve Street,” because he truly cared for the Harrisburg community and tried to make his neighbors’ lives better.
“He was my best friend for 24 years. He was a son, he was a father, he was a grandfather, he was a brother, but most of all in our community he was a friend,” she said.
She recounted memories of her 12-year-old son missing Meguel Freeman as he played football in honor of his father.
After Robyn Freeman requested Heath to give the maximum sentence allowed, Scott’s oldest and younger brother, Roderick Stephens and Herschel Scott, also pleaded for life without parole for Middleton and Berry.
“I hate the whole situation for both sides. I’m glad to be getting justice after four years,” Herschel Scott said. “I am hoping we get justice.”
The case was tried by assistant defense attorney Justin M. Mullis, while Daniel G. Leopard defended Middleton and Jesse Owen defended Berry.
Both Owen and Leopard said they believed Middleton and Berry are capable of rehabilitation as they asked Heath to grant them eventual parole.
“Life without parole merely warehouses this young man,” Owen said to Heath. “… what we would ask you to do is not throw the remaining lives away … what we’re asking for is a chance at life.”
However, in light of the jury’s verdicts, Heath said she would not grant parole as the crimes were committed with malice – “without regard for human life.”
A third suspect, Marquise Harris, who allegedly drove Middleton and Berry’s getaway car, is expected to also plead guilty to murder charges, according to a previous report and statement made by District Attorney Jared Williams.
“Senseless gun violence is crippling our community,” Williams said in a statement following the sentencing. “Every week we ‘win’ cases in court, but it’s hard to feel like winners while families grieve the loss of their sons, fathers and loved ones. When it comes to gun violence, there is no victor, only a sea of victims.”
Williams said a hearing date for Harris has yet to be set.
