CLEVELAND — 42-year-old Tirrell Edwards has been sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 24 years as Cuyahoga County Common Please Judge Steven Gall announced his decision one week after a jury found him guilty of multiple charges in the murder of Amanda Williams.
Edwards did not provide a statement when asked if he wanted to address the court.
While he was convicted on two counts of murder, two counts of felonious assault and one count of domestic violence connected to the deadly shooting in Warrensville Heights, all counts were merged for the purposes of sentencing with the punishment focused on count two -- murder.
“On October 10, 2023, Tirrell Edwards shot and killed Amanda Williams. Her loss to her family, friends, and this community is immeasurable,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley following the sentencing. “I hope Mr. Edwards spends the rest of his life in prison remembering the pain his actions caused this community. My thoughts and prayers remain with the Williams family. With this sentence, I hope the Williams family, Amanda’s friends, and our community can begin to heal.”
We streamed the entire sentencing hearing live, which you can watch in the video below:
FAMILY OF AMANDA WILLIAMS SPEAKS OUT
Prior to the sentence being announced, Williams' brother, Joey Lewis, addressed the court.
“Judge, I can’t lie," he said. "We’re hurting. ... “She was like a second mother to me.”
Lewis asked the judge to give Edwards "every ounce of what you can give him," and said, "I can't forgive him for this."
“I can’t even look at my niece and nephew too long. I can’t imagine what they’re going through. They trusted somebody and that’s what he did," Lewis said. "I’ve been around him a lot. He’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing -- a little wolf. I’m so glad I met him so I could protect my daughter from people like him.”
Williams' daughter also offered an emotional statement when asking the judge to give Edwards the maximum punishment possible.
“I just can’t stomach the fact that I have to live the rest of my life without my mom," she said. "My daughter has to live the rest of her life without her grandma because a coward wanted to take her life. My mom did not deserve this at all. My mother was a family oriented person. She was my motivator, my best friend, she was the glue to this family. She was my guidance. Everything. I just can’t live without her and I just can’t imagine living life without my mom. I can’t never call my mom again and tell her I love her. I can’t never call and tell her about my day, about how my daughter is doing, how she’s growing up. I can’t. I can’t do that no more. He can do that. He can still call his mom. He can still call and check on her. They can all call and check and see how he’s doing in jail. We can’t get my mom back. Ever. My daughter has to grow up without a grandma. She won’t see her start kindergarten. She won’t see her turn 5, grow up, be a teenager, she won’t see any of that. I’m about to be 30 years old, my mom won’t even be here to see that. She won’t be able to see my brother graduate college or anything like that. I can’t believe she’s not here no more. How can I ever explain to my daughter that my mother is never coming back?”
MORE DETAILS FROM THE CASE
The Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office says the case dates back to last October when the Warrensville Heights Police Department responded to a call from Edwards "stating he had just killed his fiancee." When officers arrived at the scene in the 19700 block of Sunset Drive, Williams was found with multiple gunshot wounds.
She was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
When taking the stand during the trial, Edwards said he was acting in self defense when he shot Williams amid an argument in which he claimed she grabbed a kitchen knife.
“I just shot rapidly. I was scared. She had me so scared with that knife,” Edwards said while on the stand.
It's a claim that prosecutors denied.
“I’m trying to run to get away. That’s when she cut me off and she lunged at me with the knife. I had no other choice,” Edwards testified.
Watch video of the moment the jury's verdict was announced:
While announcing their verdict, the jury had also concluded that Edwards was not guilty of aggravated murder.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE OF THE CASE...
- Jury finds Tirrell Edwards guilty of murder, felonious assault in death of Amanda Williams
- Day 4 of Tirrell Edwards murder trial: Edwards says he killed Amanda Williams in self-defense; case in hands of jury
- Day 3 of Tirrell Edwards murder trial: Jurors shown footage of suspect's interrogation, cell phone video from night of Amanda Williams' death
- Day 2 of Tirrell Edwards murder trial wraps: Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner takes stand
- Murder of Amanda Williams in Warrensville Heights: Trial begins for suspect Tirrell Edwards
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