GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — An Ada teen who “savagely beat’’ a retiree in a church parking lot following a 2016 road rage incident lost a bid to have his second-degree murder conviction overturned.
The Michigan Court of Appeals on Thursday let stand Christian Hillman’s conviction in the beating death of 64-year-old William McFarlan. Hillman was 18 at the time.
McFarlan died nearly five weeks after the Sept. 29, 2016 attack in southern Kent County.
Hillman was on a dirt bike and McFarlan was in a pickup when they got into a confrontation along Whitneyville Avenue SE. They pulled into a church parking lot, where McFarlan was knocked unconscious and repeatedly kicked in the head and ribs.
In an eight-page opinion, the court of appeals said evidence used at trial was fair game, including video showing Hillman’s vulgar statements to his mother at the police station and testimony that Hillman was spray-painting bridges before the attack.
McFarlan was on his way home from a fishing trip when he encountered Hillman, who was riding a dirt bike without a working headlight. He and Hillman exchanged words in the church parking lot before McFarlan was knocked to the ground.
Hillman, who was wearing steel-toe boots, “repeatedly kicked the victim in the ribs and the head . . . even after the victim was completely incapacitated and lying helpless on the ground,’’ justices wrote.
Hillman said McFarlan got what he deserved for ‘messing’ with him, witnesses said.
Hillman left the scene at one point, “only to return and continue viciously kicking the incapacitated victim in the ribs and the head,’’ justices wrote. McFarlan’s pants had also been pulled down around his ankles.
Hillman left McFarlan “gurgling on his own blood’’ and did not contact authorities to obtain medical assistance for the victim.
When he met with police, Hillman boasted that he had given McFarlan "a thorough ass beating,’’ court records show.
It took a Kent County jury only 30 minutes to convict Hillman of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to 22-½ to 100 years in prison for what was called a “savage attack.’’
Hillman appealed his conviction on numerous issues, including jury selection, witness testimony, the admission of certain evidence and the performance of his legal team.
He said "cumulative errors'' required reversal of the conviction. The court of appeals disagreed.
Hillman is serving his term at the Chippewa Correctional Facility in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The earliest he can be considered for release is 2039.
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