WEB EXCLUSIVE: Family members speak out at Moore sentencing

Published 12:00 am Monday, September 26, 2005

Family members of Sharon Ferdinand wanted the full punishment.

Ferdinand’s sister, Bonita Woods, spoke Wednesday on behalf of the family at the sentencing of Undray Moore, convicted of manslaughter in Ferdinand’s shooting death.

&uot;We feel he should be punished to the full extent of the law because he took something that can’t be given back,&uot; Woods said. &uot;I still feel like Mr. Moore hasn’t accepted responsibility for his actions.&uot;

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Woods said Ferdinand had spoken to her about her fears.

&uot;I thought he meant my sister well, but my sister was afraid of Undray,&uot; Woods said. &uot;She did say to me she felt he was going to do something to her.&uot;

Ferdinand’s daughter Sharron Williams and son Ronald were in attendance at the sentencing, though neither spoke.

In a written statement, Williams expressed her desire that Moore be strongly punished.

&uot;He may have gotten a lesser charge, but he is still a murderer,&uot; Williams said.

Moore had previously been arrested, though never convicted, of at least nine crimes between 1988 and 2001, including charges of forcible rape and aggravated battery of Ferdinand on separate occasions.

&uot;I’m beginning to see why Ms. Ferdinand’s children are so disgusted with our criminal justice system,&uot; Johnson said.

Letters from Ferdinand’s friends and family attached to court reports said Ferdinand had been repeatedly threatened by Moore in the days prior to her death. The letters said Moore was angry that Ferdinand was seeing other men.