Hamden Man Sentenced in Shooting That Permanently Paralyzed Victim

Hamden’s Kevin Blackman, 25, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his part in a 2010 shooting that left town resident John Belcher permanently paralyzed.

Randall Beach of the New Haven Register reports that Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Clifford decided to impose the agreed-upon sentence from last week’s plea deal instead of reducing it primarily due to the extent of Belcher’s injuries.

“The victim is now leading a marginal existence because of your senseless act of violence,” Clifford told Blackman, according to Beach.

An emotional statement from Belcher, who was 25 years old at the time of the shooting, was read in court and at one point he said “The irony of it all is that even though you (Blackman) are being sentenced to prison, it is me who has felt like a prisoner in my own body for the last five years,” according to Beach.

Blackman and three other men were arrested in connection to the July 2, 2010 shooting of John Belcher in which he was shot in his left chest and the bullet exited out of his neck. The cases for the other men are pending.

Hamden Police responded to Elliott Drive on the night of the shooting. When officers arrived they found Belcher lying face down in the driveway with a gunshot wound to the chest and neck. Investigation found that Belcher was confronted by three individuals who were wearing face masks, and witnesses said that at least two of them had guns, according to previous Patch reports.

Read more about Tuesday’s sentencing, including statements from both sides, at the New Haven Register here.