Man gets 60 years in teen's murder

A Columbia man will spend the next 60 years in prison for his role in a 17-year-old's stabbing death. 

 

Xavier Trevon Bates received a life sentence with all but 60 years suspended, followed by 5 years of probation for the death of Christian Lendell Massey-Hall. 

 

A sentencing hearing took a little over three hours and featured the mother of the victim, Christine Massey. She recounted all that she missed about her son's short life. "My life has been turned upside down, inside out," she said. Christian was just 17-years-old when he was murdered. 

 

Prior to sentencing, Bates stood and addressed the court as Ms. Massey stood and faced her son's killer. "I am very truly sorry that this has happened to you...and sometime...I hope you will forgive me for what I've done," he said. He stated, "I am not a monster, I'm just a young man who has made a life-changing mistake." 

 

At the time of the killing, police said that the teens had been involved in a fight, that lead Bates forcing his way into the victim's apartment and stabbing him several times. 

 

Bates was later arrested at the hospital where he went for treatment of a hand injury.