Markham man, 79, gets 8 years for shooting
DANVILLE (AP) – A judge in east-central Illinois has sentenced a 79-year-old Markham man to 8 years in prison in the fatal shooting of his former business partner.
Prosecutors say Antone Akroush shot his cousin Imad Farah Shteiwi in Danville after arguing about money. Shteiwi died of multiple gunshot wounds. Akroush says he fired in self-defense.
Akroush originally was charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors say they opted for second-degree murder in a plea agreement because a witness left the country and was unavailable to testify.
Judge Nancy Fahey’s sentence Thursday was less than the 15-year maximum. Vermilion County prosecutors say Akroush won’t be in prison long because he only has to serve 50 percent of his sentence and he’s already been in custody for almost 4 years since his 2009 arrest.
