CROWN POINT | Standing tall in a black suit, white shirt and blue satin tie, Akeem Aki-Khuam, 39, pleaded guilty Friday to murdering three people in June 1992 in an agreement that allows him to avoid the death penalty.
Aki-Khuam, formerly known as Edward Earl Williams, admitted he shot Michael Richardson, 41, Debra Ann Rice, 42, and Robert Hollins, 26, at Richardson's home at 744 Garfield St., Gary
Aki-Khuam was 25 when a Lake Criminal Court jury in January 1993 found him guilty of the robbery-turned-bloodbath killings. Then Criminal Court Judge James Letsinger sentenced Aki-Khuam to death.
However, U.S. District Court Judge Allen Sharp ruled in April 2002 that Aki-Khuam's rights were violated when Letsinger refused to exclude jurors who indicated a bias against defense lawyers.
Prosecutors decided to retry the case, which led to Friday's guilty plea.
Aki-Khuam's co-defendant, Jemelle Joshua, was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to 100 years in prison in January 1993. Joshua was 17 at the time of sentencing.
Three others, Jesse Taylor, Che "Binky" Grafton and Mark Harris, pleaded guilty to robbery in the case shortly after their arrests. Records show all three served their time and have been released from prison.
The plea agreement nullifies the retrial that was scheduled for May 7. Instead, Lake Criminal Court Judge Clarence Murray set aside May 7, 8 and 9 for Aki-Khuam's sentencing. Lawyers intend to argue the sentence. Aki-Khuam faces a maximum of 120 years in prison.
Aki-Khuam and four other men forced their way into the Gary home of Carver Elementary School teacher Michael Richardson, 41, on June 19, 1992. They planned to steal audio and video equipment, according to the plea agreement filed Friday.
Richardson was at home with his sister, Rice, and Hollins, his neighbor. Rice's grandchildren, Quanta Rice, 5, Joshua Rice, 4, and Arsenio Rice, 2, also were present.
Aki-Khuam held his handgun to Richardson's head and Joshua held Rice as the three other accomplices headed for the basement. Hollins stopped them and began wrestling with the intruders. That's when Aki-Khuam shot Hollins in the back.
When the electronic equipment was too hard to remove, Aki-Khuam ordered the victims to lie down. Rice tried to escape and Joshua shot her in the chest.
"As the invaders left the home, defendant (Aki-Khuam) shot Hollins, Rice and Richardson once in the head, despite Richardson's plea, 'Please don't kill me,' " the plea agreement states.
