CHARLESTON - A Charleston man was sentenced to three consecutive terms of life in prison for the beating deaths of a woman and her child and the severe beating of a second child, who survived.
Judge Fred W. Copeland, circuit judge for New Madrid County's 34th judicial circuit, found Andre Clark guilty of two counts of second degree murder on Aug. 3 in the beating deaths of Lazan Balentine, 32, and 4-year-old Kyri Balentine on June 17, 2004. Also Clark was found guilty of first degree assault for causing serious physical injury to Knighten Balentine, who was 3 at the time, by striking him.
Copeland heard the case after Clark waived the right to a jury.
In an appearance Oct. 12 in Mississippi County Circuit Court, Copeland sentenced Clark to three life sentences to be served consecutively in the Department of Corrections. Clark was given credit for jail time served and ordered to pay court costs.
The victims were found dead on June 17, 2004, in their home at 802 South Grand St. in Charleston after apparently being beaten to death on June 16 with a blunt object.
Knighten was also attacked and beaten at the home. While seriously injured, Knighten was treated at a St. Louis hospital and survived.