TKE president’s murderer to serve three life sentences without parole
Convicted murderer Samisoni Taukitoku was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on Friday for the 2007 Halloween party that left three men dead.
Taukitoku, 20, was convicted Wednesday of three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Charles Coogan Kelly, Nathan Viljoen and former Tau Kappa Epsilon president Derek Jensen.
“I think justice is served,” Derek Jensen’s father, Scott Jensen, said. “There could have been no other outcome.”
He said his wife began sleeping with a “lighter heart” after Taukitoku was found guilty.
The gallery of friends and family from both sides of the case were silent while the verdict was read. A man on the victim’s side pumped his fist by his waist but there was no other visible movement as the bailiff shackled Taukitoku and led him away.
Taukitoku still faces a Jan. 7 sentencing to determine if the three life sentences will be served concurrently or back-to-back. The judge will also determine the enhancements for the weapons portion of the murder conviction and Taukitoku’s sentence for the four assault with a deadly weapon convictions.
After this sentencing hearing, Taukitoku’s mother was seen sobbing against a friend. The friend repeated, “it’s not over” to the mother.
Taukitoku will likely appeal the ruling but Scott Jensen and the prosecuting lawyer, Daniel J. Greco, said they doubt it will be successful.
“This was a very clean case form a legal perspective, in fact there were not a lot of issues and those are what lead to successful appeals,” Greco said, referring to constitutional or procedural issues. “It was a fact driven case, not really a legal driven case, so I figure this case is very, very solid.”
At the TKE house, vice president Nick Meyer said the fraternity was glad the man responsible for Jensen’s death was brought to justice.
“It’s not like we are excited or anything that (the trial) happened, but there is definitely a sense of faith in our justice system and our society in general for bringing him justice,” Meyer said.
He said the house has been holding fundraisers for Jensen periodically through the year and that their goal is to celebrate the life Jensen led instead of mourning his death.
“Derek was a great person,” Meyer, who was one of Jensen’s little brothers in the fraternity, said. “It is sad that he’s gone and I would just like to make sure everyone remembers him for who he was and not just be sad that he’s gone.”
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November 17th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Nathan Viljoen was my cousin, I loved him and this Taukitoku waste of life is lucky he is only getting time in prison. He is going to be housed and fed at the expense of honest tax paying people who actually contribute to society, people like the ones he killed and their families. I personally think he deserves capital punish if for no other reason then I can not see the good in a person like Taukitoku ever being released into decent society again. You can bet my cousin and the other two boys will never have that chance, our families will not be visiting our lost love ones or seeing them return to our lives. Taukitoku’s bestial actions have robbed our family, two other families and society of three great men and caused more damage then can truly be known. I will forever regret the existence of Taukitoku.
With all sincerity,
Trevor Viljoen