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One of three males charged with murdering a Point Breeze man — who lived for more than two years before succumbing to his injuries — was convicted.
A jury found Hakim Bond, 23, of the 2300 block of Ellsworth Street, guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and possession of an instrument of crime July 20, according to court records. He was sentenced to life in jail without parole.
Bond and his friend Nafeast Flamer, now 23, of North Philly, allegedly fired about 10 shots at Allen Moment Jr., Jan. 20, 2006 outside of his home at 22nd and Pierce streets while Marvin Flamer, now 37, of the 2300 block of Ellsworth Street, blocked Moment in with his vehicle, Assistant District Attorney Richard Sax said. Moment, 24, was wounded in the abdomen, buttocks and legs.
“He lived and he doesn’t tell anyone [who wounded him] because he’s all hooked up to tubes and ventilators and in horrible, horrible condition, so he couldn’t protect himself if he did tell anyone,” Sax said also noting his feelings of confliction for snitching on his relatives — his uncle Marvin Flamer and first cousin Nafeast Flamer.
Prior to the shooting, Moment, Sax said, had tried to eliminate strife between Bond and the Flamers’ gang — based near 23rd and Ellsworth — and his friends’ gang — located near his home.
Between Bond and Nafeast Flamer allegedly shooting Moment’s friend previously and Moment attempting to be a peacemaker by taking a gun from Nafeast Flamer, the men were enraged and allegedly believed Moment may try to retaliate, Sax said.
“This was kind of a preemptive strike,” Sax said.
Marvin Flamer, who allegedly fled to North Carolina, is believed to have confided in Abdul Taylor, a neighborhood mentor from the 2200 block of Ellsworth Street, and asked him to be his alibi, Sax said. Encouraged by Moment’s family, Taylor allegedly came forward and identified Moment’s killers.
Months before Moment’s Aug. 6, ’08 death at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he spent most of his time since the shooting, his doctor told him he was not expected to survive his latest infection to his riddled bowels, so Moment asked his mother to bring in his case’s detectives, Sax said. Moment identified his killers in photo arrays and recorded a dying declaration in February ’08.
Bond and Nafeast Flamer were arrested that month while Marvin Flamer was apprehended in September ’08, according to court records.
Taylor was labeled a “snitch” and was killed May 6, ’10. Derrick White, 22, of the 1200 block of South 23rd Street, was convicted of his murder Feb. 28.
While Sax said there is direct evidence of the Flamers’ involvement in Taylor’s homicide, Bond’s role is only circumstantial. Therefore, Bond’s case was severed from his friends April 4 and that evidence was not permitted in his trial.
Without Taylor’s words, Sax relied on Moment’s friend, Aisha Williams, who originally told police she saw the three men run up to him before the gunfire erupted, but she recanted on the stand, Sax said.
“In this case, you don’t even have to speculate because the other key witness against them was executed because he was a witness against them,” Sax said. “If a message could be sent any clearer to Aisha Williams, it would be news to me.”
However, in Sax’s eyes, the dying declaration was enough to convince the jury.
The Flamers returned to court yesterday after press time for a status listing, according to court documents.
“The cases will be even stronger against Nafeast and Marvin,” Sax said.
Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
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