Sentence delayed in Brown murder trial

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Tweet Lansing — The family of an MSU student who was murdered more than 30 years ago will wait another month to hear the conclusion of a murder trial that began in March.

The courtroom was packed Wednesday with family of the slain Martin V. Brown on one side and the family of Kumbi Salim, the man found guilty of his murder, on the other.

Together, they both listened as Judge James Giddings ordered the sentencing moved to Aug. 15. "Painful" is how Brown's oldest sister, Carol Bitner, described the sentencing delay before she left Lansing's 30th Judicial Circuit Court.

"Sentencing can't go on (Wednesday) because the crime was committed more than 30 years ago. There were not any sentencing guidelines then," Giddings said.

Federal sentencing guidelines were established 11 years after the murder, with the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984.

Salim, also known as Stanley A. Price, was found guilty in May of the second-degree murder of Brown. On March 11, 1973, Brown, an MSU junior, was stabbed 10 times while walking to his Armstrong Hall dorm room after leaving a party in Campbell Hall.

Before he died, Brown informed police two men in military fatigues attacked him. Salim, an MSU alumus, originally was charged with the crime. However, the case was dropped because his Miranda rights had been violated.

In 2005, Salim again was charged with Brown's murder.

Gary Mason, the second man who was found guilty of Brown's murder in March, also had his sentencing delayed until Wednesday.

Because the Ingham County Prosecuting Attorney's Office decided sentencing guidelines would apply in Mason's case, Giddings questioned why Salim's case would be any different.

"The Mason case has been turned into a debacle and adjourned many times," said Eric E. Matwiejczyk, an assistant Ingham County prosecutor. "The family has taken days off work in the summer to be here. The family has shown up once again, and I'm going to ask for costs incurred by the victim's family."

This is the first time Salim's sentencing has been delayed.

Both families traveled from out of town to witness the sentencing. Salim's family members came from as far as Minnesota, Nevada and California.

"Crime is an inconvenience, and I wish I had a magic wand and could make it go away," Giddings said. "I would, but this is a big case and a big deal for the family."

For now, both families will wait for Matwiejczyk and Mitchell H. Nelson, Salim's attorney, to argue whether sentencing guidelines should be used. The date is scheduled for July 22.

"It's very frustrating," Bitner said. "I don't know what closure is - if you can call it satisfaction, that something is finally happening - but this has totally changed the structure of what we are."

With tears coming down her eyes as she hugged her family, Brenda Linley, Brown's sister, said she's ready for the case to be finished.

"The family is ready for this to be over," Linley said. "I don't think it's ever going to be over."

Ashley A. Smith can be reached at smithas7@msu.edu.

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