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HUNTINGTON MURDER SENTENCING
Mother Gets Chance To Face Son's Killer; Man Sentenced To 40 Years In Slaying

Reported by: Send eMail Darrah Wilcox
Web Producer: Jeff Morris
Reported: Feb. 26, 2013 10:33 AM EST
Updated: Feb. 27, 2013 9:25 AM EST

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Huntington , Cabell County , West Virginia

Brenda Gilbert came to Huntington with one goal in mind this week -- facing her son's killer.

On Tuesday morning, she got that chance.

Anthony Cole admitted in Cabell County Circuit Court that he shot Gilbert's son, Dashawn, in the head and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. The slaying occurred in January 2011 in an apartment on Eighth Avenue in Huntington.

Brenda Gilbert had the opportunity to speak to Cole at that plea hearing. "God forgive me for saying this, but I hate you," she said to Cole. "You know you did the unthinkable thing to me."

Gilbert also asked Cole why he killed her son.

Cole told Judge Paul Farrell he doesn't know why he did it. "It just happened. I can't even explain myself, sir," Cole said.

Farrell addressed Cole. "Dashawn Gilbert did nothing to you. He apparently meant nothing to you, and basically you executed him," he said.

Cole said he is remorseful and apologized to the victim's family and his own, but Gilbert said that would not bring her son back. "His family can see him. They can go and visit him and talk to him. I will never be able to talk to my son. It's just wrong, dead wrong," she said.

Gilbert said she feels justified being able to talk to Cole face to face. "He was my demon, and I had to face him head on," she said.

Farrell sentenced Cole to 40 years for the murder. Gilbert said she is grateful and that "my heart can really begin to heal now."

Cole also pleaded guilty to fraudulent use of a credit card. That charge stemmed from a robbery that happened a few weeks before the murder. As a part of a plea agreement, the first-degree murder charge was reduced to second-degree murder and a robbery charge was dropped.

Cole was sentenced to 40 years for the murder charge and 10 years for the fraudulent use of a credit card. He will be eligible for parole after serving 15 years of his sentence.




A Huntington man was sentenced for his part in a shooting death and robbery.

Anthony Patrick Cole, 21, of Huntington pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and fraudulent use of a credit card on Tuesday. As a part of a plea agreement, the first-degree murder charge was reduced to second-degree murder and a robbery charge was dropped.

Cole was sentenced to 40 years for the murder charge and 10 years for the fraudulent use of a credit card. Cole will be eligible for parole after serving 15 years of his sentence.

In January 2011, Cole was charged in the shooting death of Dashawn Gilbert of New York. A few months prior, Cole was charged with a robbery of a woman in December 2010.



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