Columbus man maintains innocence as he's sentenced to life in prison in unborn baby's death
A Columbus man who was convicted last month of murdering a 15-year-old girl's unborn baby in a drive-by shooting has been sentenced to life in prison with the opportunity for parole after 40 years.
Christopher L. Payne, 27, of the Near East Side, was found guilty by a Franklin County Common Pleas Court jury on April 13 of all charges, including murder and two counts of attempted murder, for the Aug. 23, 2020 shooting on the Northeast Side.
Common Pleas Court Judge Carl Aveni sentenced Payne on Friday morning, calling it a tragic case that represents an enormous loss. Aveni could have sentenced Payne to serve up to 60 years in prison before getting the opportunity for parole.
In the 2020 shooting, Ma’Tiya Bruster-Lewis, who was about 35 weeks pregnant, was shot in the stomach while walking with Diarice Fitzgerald, 34. Two people who said they were in the car Payne shot from testified during the trial that Payne was aiming for Fitzgerald.
Bruster-Lewis had just gone shopping for baby clothes that day. She underwent an emergency cesarean section, but her baby son, whom she named Asier Lewis, died shortly after from a bullet wound to the head.
Payne intends to appeal the jury verdict. During the trial, Payne's defense attorney, Jeffrey M. Blosser, cast doubt on the credibility of witnesses for the prosecution and on the victims' ability to identify Payne as the shooter.
Payne said Friday at the sentencing hearing that he was not given a fair trial and pointed out inconsistencies in witnesses' testimony.
"I feel like I was exposed to racism," Payne said. "I feel like I was guilty until proven innocent. I feel like I was judged under a false pretense and statements that were inconsistent."
Payne said he hasn't seen his children since he was arrested in October 2020.
Past reporting: Columbus man convicted of murdering teen's unborn baby in 2020 drive-by shooting
Franklin County Assistant Prosecutor Kirk Shaw read a statement in court written by Tamara Lewis on behalf of her daughter Bruster-Lewis, who is now 18.
"There is really no compensation or restitution Mr. Payne could ever perform that would be a swap for an innocent life that was taken from us," Shaw read. "We were robbed of so much: lullabies, nursery rhymes, so many firsts. My child does not want to be here living while her baby is gone ... My grandbaby will never get to achieve anything."
Lewis pointed out in her statement that Payne will be able to watch his children grow up, even from behind bars.
Speaking on behalf of Fitzgerald, Franklin County Assistant Prosecutor Keith McGrath said Fitzgerald was not interested in coming to court to make a victim statement for himself. McGrath said Fitzgerald testified during the trial because there was a baby involved who was killed.
Shaw said it's egregious that Payne would shoot at a man standing next to a pregnant girl.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus man sentenced for murdering unborn baby in drive-by shooting
