First degree murder

A chess game of life and death

O

ur hearts are broken once again at the reminder of the senseless murder of young Germaine Rucker on August 10, 2003. He was a victim of the violence that continues to plague our city - and yet, upon closer examination this story, like so many others, has many more victims.

For six weeks, I sat in courtroom #914 of Boston’s Superior Court.  Its marble floors are washed with the tears of pain or relief… justice and injustice.  There are sides here, walls visible and invisible.  But no teams, no winners.  A young life had been tragically lost.  But I saw more than one life being lost - both families and their friends grieving, yet coping.  The professionals - lawyers and law enforcement - were reviewing and reevaluating the questions and answers.  Some performed in the stilted legal dance they’d rehearsed and perfected.  To me, the novice, it was a chess game of life and death - or legal basketball with the Assistant District Attorney and prosecution making a full court press, holding onto the verbal ball for six days straight, asking the witnesses to give their resumes or to define words like DNA until the jurors’ clock ran out and the defense had only moments to make one final shot in the last hours.

The valiant public defender stood seemingly alone against the entourage for the prosecution.  But he was not alone; Iris Weaver, Kentel’s mother, was there every day.  She took the bus alone from her Roxbury home, often the first to arrive in the morning, greeting the trial court officers as they opened the doors.  She came to pray and support her son - Kentel Weaver, age 19 - and to tell the truth of his story and hers.  And even after she told it, I wonder if anyone really heard what she said.  I heard her; I was there as her support, her pastor, her friend… very naïve and with a lot to learn about the legal system.

In August 2003, Kentel was 16 - a junior in high school.  He held a part-time job and regularly attended church at The Salvation Army with his family.  Kentel would ride the bus every day from Roxbury to Dorchester to work for the Boston Youth Fund.  He was a Junior Counselor at our Jubilee House in Codman Square.  He brought his young niece to day camp.  He never missed a day of work for over seven weeks.  He was a favorite counselor among the young boys.  His smile and friendly manner were infectious.  On Sunday morning, August 10, he came to church with his family.  The next week he attended Young Life Camp.

In the early morning hours of August 27, I received a call.  “Mrs. Dunigan, they have arrested Kentel.  Iris had brought him in to confess to the murder of Germaine Rucker.”

There must be some mistake.  My husband and I rushed over to their home, and Iris shared her story.  After getting up at 4:00 a.m. on Monday, August 25 to go to work at Burger King, Iris was interviewed by detectives until 10:00 p.m.  They had originally planned to come at 2:00 PM but cancelled.  Exhausted and usually in bed before 9:00 p.m., Iris invited them in, never imagining that Kentel would be involved in any crime… and as woman of God, she knew she had nothing to hide.  Without any detailed explanations, the detective required her to sign paperwork, about which she naively asked, “Isn’t that what they say on Law and Order that you need a lawyer for?”  Nothing was further explained.  Questions were asked and answers were given, then the detectives left asking her to contact them if she had any further information.

Iris told me that she was unsettled in her spirit and could not sleep for days.  She continued to question Kentel.  His nonverbal answer gave her the feeling that he was some how involved.  She gathered her family and got them down on their knees in the living room of their small townhouse, weeping and praying to God.  They begged Him to help them do the right thing, to protect their family.  After midnight in the early morning hours of August 27, a brave mother took her son to the police station for a confession and protection and legal counsel that she couldn’t afford.  She felt she was doing the right thing.  Since then, some have said her decision was foolish.  Would I have done the same? It has been two years and seven months since she bid her 16-year-old son goodbye, not knowing who the real killer was.

On June 21, 2004, Kentel’s older brother Kassim was gunned down - a victim of gang violence.  As I participated in his funeral, I watched again as Iris graciously comforted over a hundred young teenage men and women who came to pay their respects; my own two blond-haired teen sons among them.  Now, years after Kassim’s death, she still encourages teens to look higher than the street corner and to love harder than the anger and hatred that seemingly spills from so many of our city’s streets.  Iris knows both sides of this road, and she walks it clinging to the hand of her Lord.

I study Kentel in the courtroom; he is older but still so young.  Iris brings him a fresh shirt and tie every day.  Sitting up straight as though to make her proud, not saying a word he stares at the legal proceedings somewhat bewildered.

For six weeks the case goes on. Not one eye witness identifies him at the scene of the crime.  His hat was found three blocks away - the only evidence.  A series of witnesses describe what could be every young African American man in Roxbury… and only from a distance.  The prosecution seems to lay upon Kentel’s young dark shoulders the weight of every vicious homicide in Boston in the last 4 years… after all, he was seemingly “brought in on a silver platter.”  As I look around the courtroom in the silence, I see other clergy supporting the families in their grief - and rightly so.  But awkwardly I ponder as we all silently pray, “God, who are you listening to?”  And all I can say is, “Thy will be done.”

Several young men and their lawyers parade silently through the courtroom and plead the 5th amendment.  I wonder to myself if Kentel is taking the rap for one of them, and is he is afraid for the life of his family.  This is too surreal… yet all too real for many.

Last winter, Police Commissioner Kathleen O’Toole commended a mother for turning in her son after a crime and encouraged other mothers to do the same.  I puzzle over whether Iris would do it again if she had the chance.

On Wednesday, April 26 at 2 p.m., the jury foreman reads the verdict for Kentel: guilty of murder in the first degree.  Iris remains with her eyes fixed steadily on Kentel.  I, on the other hand, feel as if all the air has been sucked out of the room.  There is no screaming, no shouting.  We ride the elevator in silence.  Only after we exit the building does she begin to give way.  By the time we reach street level, she is distraught… her only thought is, “How can I tell the family?  How can I give Kentel hope?  God give me strength.  I trust in you.”  I, the professional clergy, am profoundly speechless.  But I know on that busy sidewalk in Government Center Iris and God are doing business and He hears her cries.  Returning to her home, we gather once again to pray on the same carpet in the same living room where she and Kentel knelt two years and seven months ago.  Again, we beseech God for help.  And I too know He is listening.

Last Sunday in the pouring rain we walked together with hundreds of others in the Mother’s Walk for Peace. We were reminded that God weeps too.

Writer: Major Sue Dunigan and her husband Bill have a passion for people and have focused on urban ministry and incarnational evangelism and discipleship.

The Dunigans were appointed to Boston over 12 years ago to begin urban church planting. They serve the Lord at the Jubilee House in Dorchester living and working in a stately 23 room Victorian mansion in the heart of Codman Square. Dorchester is a high risk area of Boston with rampant violent crime, drug and gang issues. It is to this neighborhood they are called to be a part of and to minister. They live there in intentional Christian Community currently with 16 other people, 2 golden retrievers, 1 cat and a fish.

They are currently the hosts of the Gordon Boston Urban Semester program and have housed over 100 college students over the past 12 years.

Sue enjoys teaching, organizing and public speaking. She is an amateur actress and singer and enjoys entertaining and cooking for a cast of thousands. She also has developed a love of gardening and growing things.

Sue loves a organizing a good party and if there is nothing happening she’s willing to find a reason to throw one. She is the house mother, pastor and resident “cruise director” at the Jubilee House.

The Dunigans are two people on a journey together learning to follow God and love him passionately. It is Sue’s desire that men and women know that they are beloved by God and to teach them how to know Him intimately.

2 Comments to First degree murder

1. Can’t say much else but “wow” and thanks for sharing! recently in the Uk 2 sisters turned their mum in for being over the legal alcohol limit and they were praised too!
Estelle on July 3rd, 2008

2. Why did she have him confess if, as you said, she doesn’t know who did it?
Amy Reardon on July 4th, 2008

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