Man Gets 32 Years in Beating Death of Honor Student

Tuesday, Jul 19, 2011 | Updated 9:27 PM CDT

Man Gets 32 Years for Killing Honor Student

Eugene Riley

The fourth of five defendants convicted of the videotaped fatal beating of a teen near Fenger High School was sentenced Tuesday to 32 years in prison.

Eugene Riley read his apology to Derrion Albert’s family, his own family and to the whole community in a crowded courtroom.

"I ask the Lord to forgive me for the actions I took," he read in a mumbled voice.

Albert's family said they accepted the sentence, but had hoped for a longer one.

"Well, it's 32 years. We have to accept it. It's not going to change. Personally, I believe it should have been longer. I was expecting maybe 50 years," said Albert's grandfather, Norman Golliday. "It is what it is."

Riley, now 20, was seen on an infamous videotape made of the Sept. 24, 2009, attack near Fenger, swinging a wooden plank, knocking an already prostrate Albert in the head.

He testified at his trial that he was trying to protect his brother in the melee that broke out between Fenger students from Altgeld Gardens and from an area near Fenger known as "The Ville."

He was convicted in May.

The fifth and final defendant, Lapoleon Colbert, still awaits sentencing.

Full Coverage: Derrion Albert