A reminder that one life is worth as much as another

While producers from 48 Hours were picking the brains of -- and the dinner check up for -- lawyers involved with the high-profile murder case against accused wife-killer Kirk Turner, the son of another woman who had been killed in a domestic dispute struggled with what he might say during the next morning's sentencing hearing.

"It's making me sick because over in Davie County there's a trial for that dentist who killed his wife," Jeffrey Pyles said Monday. "This is the same thing, but two people were shot. It just seems like nobody much cares."

That second person was Pyles, a fact that no doubt made the next day's ordeal even more daunting. He was shot twice on the night of April 17, 2008, by Warren Marshall, the live-in boyfriend of Pyles' mother, Nellie Jane Pruitt. Marshall shot Pyles before killing Pruitt in the driveway of the Surry County home the couple shared.

After being charged initially with first-degree murder, Marshall agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon and secret assault. The sentencing was scheduled for Tuesday, and Pyles would have to take the stand and tell a judge about the last horrifying moments of his mother's life.

"I feel a lot of weight on my shoulders," Pyles said before the hearing. "I feel like the only one fighting for my mom."

‘Knew I was going to die'

Pyles walked into the Surry County Courthouse on Tuesday morning surrounded by his loved ones. He held his head high and carried a framed photo of his mother under one arm. He was as ready as he would ever be.

Over at the defendant's table, Marshall was a pitiful sight -- a tired-looking 63-year-old wearing an orange jail-issue jumpsuit. His defense attorney said that Marshall had never before committed a crime and lived with his parents until he was well into his 40s.

Pyles started by talking about accompanying his mother to the house near Elkin. She had lived with Marshall for 14 or 15 years, but the relationship had frayed and she wanted to move out. Pruitt asked her son to go with her to pick up a few personal items.

After they were inside, Marshall pulled a 22.-caliber pistol that he had hidden in a drawer in the living room. Pruitt screamed for Pyles to run, but Marshall shot him once in the side and again in the back as he was running for his life.

"All I could think of was my wife and my two children," Pyles said. "I just knew I was going to die."

Despite his wounds, Pyles managed to scramble over a fence and flag down a passing motorist for help. But not before Marshall shot his mother twice in the chest.

"I didn't think he'd turn the gun on her," Pyles testified, sobbing deeply and holding the portrait of his mother tight to his chest. "She pretty much sacrificed herself so I could live."

Tragic end to a good life

In the end, there wasn't much drama Tuesday morning. There would be no television-news trucks lined up outside, nor would bailiffs have to worry much about crowd control.

Sadly, State of North Carolina v. Marshall was just another in an endless string of killings resulting from domestic violence -- 83 in 2008.

Marshall was represented capably by local attorneys, not a team of high-dollar, camera-friendly legal aces from Raleigh. He has been in jail since he was arrested, not free to dine out in public after posting $1 million bail like a certain dentist who's neck-deep in a murder case that resulted from a confrontation at the end of a strained relationship.

Judge Moses Massey listened intently as Pyles described his mother as a kind woman who loved to raise flowers, animals and her grandchildren. Massey also studied the contents of a binder prepared by the defense that described Marshall's redeeming qualities -- mitigating factors in attorney-speak.

Then the judge did what he had to do. He ordered Marshall to serve at least 26 years in prison, enough to keep him until he's 89 and in all likelihood the life sentence Pyles wanted for his mom.

"I'd like for people to know that one life is worth as much as another," Pyles said afterward. "I'm just glad it's over."

■ Scott Sexton can be reached at 727-7481 or at ssexton@wsjournal.com.