Emotions run high at sentencing of teen

At his sentencing hearing yesterday, facing a mandatory life term for killing a 16-year-old for his dirt bike, Eric Smith had nothing but excuses.

He blamed his lawyer, the judge, and even the jury, while the two families devastated by his violent actions wept in court.

"Nobody can judge me," said Smith, 18, standing before Judge Shelley Robins New with his hands cuffed in front of him. "Nobody can judge me but God."

"God doesn't want you," yelled Yanessa Navarro, 19, sister of Luis Navarro Jr., who was shot and killed in July 2007 in Tacony Creek Park, where he had gone to ride his new bike.

Smith's lawyer, Daniel Rendine, told the judge that Smith was "borderline mentally retarded" and had an "extremely difficult upbringing." His mother was a drinker, Rendine said, and his father was barely around.

When Smith was sentenced to a juvenile facility for a year for animal cruelty, Rendine said, he "did well under the structured setting," but after his release, he never received the program's follow-up support services.

"The system did fail, in a certain sense," Rendine told the judge.

A few months after Smith's release, Smith shot and killed Navarro.

His uncle expressed sympathy to the Navarro family.

"We'd just like to them to know that we are very sorry . . . and we hope that they can find closure," said William Smith.

"Luis was a good person," Navarro's girlfriend, Ashley Maldonado, 17, told the judge. "I don't have anyone to talk to anymore."

Navarro's sister, Yanessa, tearfully told the judge how her mother is suffering all the time, and how her father, whom she had never seen cry, now cries alone.

"It's the hardest thing in the world to lose someone over material things," she said.

Yanessa Navarro described her brother as "a strong man who worked hard for the things he wanted," and called Smith a pathetic coward.

"Death row is more beneficial for Mr. Smith," Navarro's father, Luis Navarro Sr., told the judge.

Navarro recounted how Smith shot his son over and over, bragged about the killing, and let his friends take turns riding his son's bike.

"He felt proud," Navarro said, glaring at Smith. "He caught a body."

Rendine objected, the judge intervened, and Navarro continued.

"My son meant everything to me," he said. "He was my only boy. He's part of me, and now part of me is gone."

The judge sentenced Smith to a life sentence for first-degree murder, plus additional years for related charges.

A woman sitting with Smith's family broke into sobs. One teenage boy urged Smith to keep his head up.

After the room cleared, Yanessa Navarro apologized for her outburst. The judge told her that she understood.