Judge shaves 25 years off killer’s term

Kenyus Walker, 41, ‘appears to have truly changed his life,’ jurist explains

OAKLAND >> After lauding an Oakland man for good behavior and finding religion in prison since he was sentence to 50 years to life for murder six years ago, an Alameda County Superior Court judge took 25 years off the sentence Friday, giving the defendant a chance for parole in the late 2030s.

Judge Don C. Clay acknowledged it was a “very emotional” decision but said the defendant, 41-yearold Kenyus Walker, “appears to have truly changed his life” since being sentenced to 50 years to life in 2014.

Clay used penal code 1385, a 2017 law that allows judges to strike a gun enhancement of a conviction when they see fit. Walker’s new sentence on a first-degree murder charge is 25 years to life, meaning he will be eligible for parole after 25 years.

“I truly believe he is remorseful,” Clay said. He later added that, Walker has found religion in prison, avoided joining a gang, reduced his security level and that “nothing but good so far has come from the department of corrections of how (Walker) has conducted himself.”

In 2013, Walker, then-33, was arrested and charged with killing Pittsburg resident Billy Brooks Jr., 39, during an argument at a home on the 2300 block of 80th Avenue in Oakland. Clay said Friday that Walker was armed because he was essentially serving as a bodyguard for people who were selling drugs out of the residence, and that Walker’s own drug addiction was a proximate cause of the murder.

Clay acknowledged that after killing Brooks over a disrespectful comment, Walker fled the area and Oakland police had to track him down. But he added, “As much as we know, that was an isolated incident with him, what happened that night.”

All of this was little comfort to Brooks’ family members, two of whom made emotional statements to Clay before the resentencing was handed down. Brooks’ mother said that her daughter died “of a broken heart” after Brooks was killed and she blames it in part on her son’s murder.

“I want the court to know that we got a life sentence too…I cry every day for my son,” Brooks’ mother said. She later added, “I cry every day for my children. He gave me a life sentence till I take my last breath. That’s what he did for us…I pray that this man (Walker) has really changed his life.”

Clay agreed that the victim’s family had effectively received a life sentence, too, but added that, “there’s absolutely nothing I can do” to change what happened. He contrasted his decision to shave 25 years off the sentence from actually freeing Walker from prison, noting he still has to serve more than a decade before he’d get a chance to try and convince the parole board hewassuitableforrelease.

“What I’m doing today doesn’t change the fact that Kenyus is doing life in prison,” Clay said.

For his part, Walker offered a courtroom apologize to Brooks’ family and told Brooks’ mother to have faith that God would bring her peace someday. He said he would take back the murder “if I could.”

“I made the biggest mistake ever that I cannot change and I am so sorry,” Walker said.

Walker is serving his sentence in California State Prison, Solano, according to public records.