A D.C. Superior Court jury Tuesday found a 42-year-old Washington man guilty of bludgeoning a retired New York Times journalist to death in a well-to-do Northwest Washington neighborhood.
Percey Jordan was found guilty of murdering and robbing David Rosenbaum in January. The 63-year-old former newsman was taking a stroll outside in the crisp winter air to get rid of his hiccups when Jordan jumped him from behind and struck him repeatedly with a heavy plastic pipe, authorities said.
Compounding the tragedy, District police and emergency medical crews originally believed Rosenbaum was drunk and were slow in taking him to thenearest hospital and treating him. He died two days later.
“I don’t want anyone to think it is a happy day,” Rosenbaum’s brother Marc said. The tragedy, he said, has wasted the lives of his brother, Jordan, Jordan’s cousin, Michael Hamlin and their families.
Hamlin, 23, pleaded guilty last month to murder and testified before the jury last week that he and Jordan drove to Northwest Washington and robbed Rosenbaum, but Jordan swung the weapon that killed him.
Marc Rosenbaum said he hopes Jordan gets life in prison. He said he hasn’t decided what length of sentence Hamlin should receive. He said he wants the District to improve its police and emergency response service.
The jury of 12 women took about a day to come to a verdict. Juror Tawana Allen said she believed parts of Hamlin’s testimony. She said she was not entirely certain whether Jordan bludgeoned Rosenbaum, but it was clear that Jordan was involved in the crime that led to Rosenbaum’s death.
