A woman was sentenced to significant prison time for the murder of aspiring rapper and cousin to Beyoncé, Martell Derouen.
CBS Austin reports that Sasha Skare was sentenced to 55 years on Friday, just one week after turning down a plea deal that would have netted her 20 years.
Derouen’s family was present in the courtroom for the sentencing, according to KSAT, and hugged each other.
Derouen was shot and killed at his apartment in January 2021. Skare allegedly shot the aspiring rapper, who went by Kardone, through the door of his apartment at The Towers after the pair argued.
The suspect was captured on video walking to Derouen’s apartment with a gun in one hand and a cell phone in the other. A 911 call was played for the courtroom in which a woman claimed to be the victim’s wife and that he was hurt or in danger.
However, Derouen’s wife, Joi, testified that it was not her voice in the recording and believed it was Skare. She claimed the woman mispronounced her name and got Derouen’s age wrong.
My name starts with a ‘J’ and not a ‘G,'” she said. “He was not 28, he was 34. Not correct at all.”
The jury deliberated four and a half hours after closing arguments on Friday before returning the punishment.
