Gevin Prince Update: Ga. teen accused in sword killing of great-grandmother gets life sentence

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Gevin Prince seen in court Feb. 6, 2012. Prince was sentenced to life in prison with parole in the Aug. 15, 2011 killing of his great-grandmother.

/ CBS Atlanta

(CBS) DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ga. - A Georgia teen accused of killing his great-grandmother with a sword was sentenced to life with parole on Wednesday after pleading guilty but mentally ill, CBS Atlanta reports.

The 16-year-old Gevin Prince was charged with malice murder and four counts of aggravated assault in the fatal stabbing of Mary Joan Gibbs, 77, with a samurai sword. Investigators said Prince killed her after she told him to stop playing video games on Aug. 15, 2011.

Police said Prince also stabbed his grandmother, Laura Prince, 55, during the violent attack, the station reports.

Laura Prince spoke in court before the judge accepted her grandson's plea.

"I lost my mother in this horrible thing. My arm was broken, I was stabbed in the shoulder and I'm losing my only grandchild to the courts," Laura Prince said.

According to CBS Atlanta, Laura Prince and Gevin Prince cried when she embraced him in court. She told the judge that was the first time she had hugged her grandson since the incident.

"I'm begging you to help him, to give him the help he needs. I know he has to be punished, I know this has to happen. I accept that," Laura Prince said.

David Cook, Laura Prince's brother, told the judge he wanted Gevin Prince to go to trial, the station says.

"He shouldn't have been in that house your honor. There are too many unanswered questions," Cook said.

More on Crimesider
August 17, 2011 - Ga. teen charged in sword killing appears in court

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