Percey Jordan, who swung the heavy plastic pipe that crushed the skull of a retired New York Times journalist, was sentenced Friday to more than 62 years in prison, where the judge said he hoped Jordan would gain some remorse and compassion.
Jordan, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit, showed no emotion in the D.C. Superior Courtroom when Judge Erik Christian asked if he had anything to say to the court or the family.
Jordan, 43, scratched his shoulder and mumbled, “No.”
Jordan was the second of two cousins sentenced for murdering veteran journalist David Rosenbaum outside his Gramercy Street home in Northwest Washington last January.
Rosenbaum, 63, who had retired six days earlier, was taking an after-dinner stroll to cure his hiccups when Jordan and his cousin, Michael Hamlin, jumped the newsman from behind. Jordan beat Rosenbaum with a heavy plastic pipe, crushing his skull and breaking his ribs, authorities said.
Hamlin, 24, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 26 years in prison.
“At least Hamlin apologized and publicly asked for forgiveness. That’s not true of Percey Jordan,” said Marcus Rosenbaum, the second time in two weeks he has appeared in court to face his brother’s killers. “This man is not only evil; he’s dangerous.”
Rosenbaum’s son Daniel also spoke. “He was the greatest dad anyone could ever have. I can’t imagine a sentence that would fit this crime,” he said.
The Rosenbaum family has filed a $20 million suit against the District and a D.C hospital, following an inspector general’s report that found multiple failures in the city’s response, including claims that emergency crews believed Rosenbaum was drunk rather than a crime victim. Rosenbaum was left on a gurney for 90 minutes before he was examined, the suit states.
