Oakland murderer inspired by rap album sentenced to life in prison
BAY CITY NEWS SERVICE
Article Created: 05/28/2008 01:49:53 PM PDT
A former Oakland man who was inspired by the rap album "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" was sentenced today to life in prison without parole for murdering a convenience store manager and seriously wounding another employee during a robbery five years ago.
Paul C. Murray, 26, who previously was convicted of dealing cocaine, was convicted earlier this month of first-degree murder, attempted murder and the special circumstance of committing murder during a robbery Aug. 23, 2003, in which he murdered Pal Bajwa, 27, the manager of the Seminary Food and Gas Mart at 6235 Seminary Ave. in Oakland, wounded another employee and escaped with cash.
The other employee was in a coma for a month, was hospitalized for 16 months and suffered permanent injuries but he survived and testified against Murray in his trial in Alameda County Superior Court.
The incident was captured on a store videotape. Authorities said the shootings were senseless because Bajwa and the other employee weren't a threat and offered no resistance.
Prosecutor Connie Campbell said Murray, who grew up in Oakland but later moved to Sacramento, was arrested in Sacramento in November 2001 for four counts of armed robbery and other charges in that city but a judge released him on $80,000 bail on July 30, 2003.
Campbell said Murray robbed a bank in Union City later that same day. She said he pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery before his murder trial started.
Campbell said that
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while Murray was in custody in Sacramento, he listened to "Get Rich or Die Tryin," an album recorded by rap artist 50 Cent and produced by Eminem and Dr. Dre that was released on Feb. 6, 2003. The album spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 list.
The prosecutor told Judge Joseph Hurley, who sentenced Murray today, that Murray "was so enamored of the album that he tattooed 'Get Rich or Die Tryin' on his body and proceeded to go live it."
Campbell said, "He was getting rich and killing innocent people who were working for a living and to this day there's no indication that he has a morsel of remorse."
Murray declined to say anything before he was sentenced. As deputies escorted him from the courtroom, he waved and blew kisses to two women in the audience.
BAY CITY NEWS SERVICE
Article Created: 05/28/2008 01:49:53 PM PDT
A former Oakland man who was inspired by the rap album "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" was sentenced today to life in prison without parole for murdering a convenience store manager and seriously wounding another employee during a robbery five years ago.
Paul C. Murray, 26, who previously was convicted of dealing cocaine, was convicted earlier this month of first-degree murder, attempted murder and the special circumstance of committing murder during a robbery Aug. 23, 2003, in which he murdered Pal Bajwa, 27, the manager of the Seminary Food and Gas Mart at 6235 Seminary Ave. in Oakland, wounded another employee and escaped with cash.
The other employee was in a coma for a month, was hospitalized for 16 months and suffered permanent injuries but he survived and testified against Murray in his trial in Alameda County Superior Court.
The incident was captured on a store videotape. Authorities said the shootings were senseless because Bajwa and the other employee weren't a threat and offered no resistance.
Prosecutor Connie Campbell said Murray, who grew up in Oakland but later moved to Sacramento, was arrested in Sacramento in November 2001 for four counts of armed robbery and other charges in that city but a judge released him on $80,000 bail on July 30, 2003.
Campbell said Murray robbed a bank in Union City later that same day. She said he pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery before his murder trial started.
Campbell said that
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while Murray was in custody in Sacramento, he listened to "Get Rich or Die Tryin," an album recorded by rap artist 50 Cent and produced by Eminem and Dr. Dre that was released on Feb. 6, 2003. The album spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 list.
The prosecutor told Judge Joseph Hurley, who sentenced Murray today, that Murray "was so enamored of the album that he tattooed 'Get Rich or Die Tryin' on his body and proceeded to go live it."
Campbell said, "He was getting rich and killing innocent people who were working for a living and to this day there's no indication that he has a morsel of remorse."
Murray declined to say anything before he was sentenced. As deputies escorted him from the courtroom, he waved and blew kisses to two women in the audience.
