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Last updated: Feb 01, 2024 - 3:27 PM

Man gets 6 years for fatal punch at York Park
Oct 26, 2017 - 12:32 AM

The 18-year-old man who threw a fatal punch earlier this year at a York Park was ordered to serve six years in state prison.

The 18-year-old man who threw a fatal punch earlier this year at a York Park was ordered to serve six years in state prison.

Kwamiere Durham pleaded guilty to a felony count of voluntary manslaughter in exchange for dismissal of a first degree murder charge, according to a York Dispatch report. Durham's punch knocked Oscar Cherry III unconscious on April 17 in Girard Park.

Cherry's head slammed into the concrete basketball court and he was found bleeding from the head, not breathing. Cherry died a day later at York Hospital as a result of blunt force trauma. 

Reports said Cherry was babysitting a group of children when another group of kids began making fun of him as well as throwing sticks and rocks at him. Cherry, 25, had special needs his family told WGAL in April

The kids returned with Durham, who punched Cherry and fled the scene. Using video, police were able to track down Durham and file charges.

In court Wednesday, Durham apologized for the attack, saying he was just trying to protect the kids. Prosecutors said the death was a tragedy and that Durham deserved prison, even though he didn't have any specific intent to kill Cherry, according to the report.

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