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In Syracuse, Darnell Jones, 30, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for first-degree manslaughter on Monday (December 1) after a jury found him equally responsible for the fatal stabbing of 28-year-old Willy Stridiron. The incident occurred behind a home on Lincoln Avenue in June 2024.
Prosecutors argued that Jones, along with his brother Donquan Jones, who had already pleaded guilty and received the same sentence, shared the intent to harm Stridiron. During the trial, it was revealed that the violence erupted during a series of alcohol-fueled fights. According to Syracuse.com, Darnell Jones "sucker punched" Stridiron, reigniting tensions. After being knocked unconscious by Stridiron, Jones and his brother chased him into a backyard where the stabbing occurred.
Despite claims from Jones's defense attorney, Benjamin Coffin, that Jones's mental disabilities and heavy drinking should result in a lesser charge, Judge Gordon Cuffy denied requests for a lighter sentence. The judge emphasized that Jones's actions demonstrated shared intent in the attack.
During the trial, it was noted that Jones admitted to continuing to punch Stridiron while his brother stabbed him. He also allegedly burned his bloodied shoes and helped his brother boil the knife used in the stabbing, which the prosecution argued showed acknowledgment of guilt.
Before his sentencing, Jones apologized to the victim's family for his actions. The case highlights the complexities of legal responsibility in group violence, as noted by CNY Central.