Gunman gets 35 years in Brooksville shooting

BROOKSVILLE –
Carlene Frazer spoke softly and succinctly. She said revenge was not on her mind.

“I’d just like to see justice served for my husband,” she told the judge. “He was unarmed. He was gunned down and murdered.”

She remained composed during her statements and kept it together when family members of the man convicted of killing her husband made their comments Wednesday afternoon in Hernando County Circuit Court.

It got tougher for Frazer when it became the defendant’s turn to speak.

She sobbed as Julius Holder asked for forgiveness.

“I’m sorry to the family,” he said. “I know it’s hard on them … I’m sorry to put this stress on my family, my loved ones as well.”

Holder admitted to fatally shooting Kenardo Frazer the morning of March 31, 2011 after he and his two accomplices chased down Frazer through a neighborhood near Damac Estates.

Dunnell Brown, 27, and Charles Bottom Jr., 32, were sentenced last month to 25 and 12 years in prison, respectively.

Holder, 26, was sentenced Wednesday to 35 years.

Frazer, was survived by his wife, three children, father and stepmother, all of whom live in New York.

His widow said she was pregnant when she learned of her husband’s death. She miscarried soon thereafter.

Prosecutor Pete Magrino acknowledged that Holder and his family conveyed remorse toward Frazer’s widow, “but having said that judge, certainly Mr. Frazer was shot and killed by the defendant for no reason.”

Circuit Judge Merritt Sr. could have sentenced Holder to as much as 40 years. The mandatory minimum for his second-degree murder charge, based on the guidelines, was 25 years.

“Obviously, you have some people … some family who care about you very much,” Merritt said to the defendant. “The court is cognizant of that. It’s also cognizant of the fact you took a human life. Human life is sacred. Once you take it, you can’t get it back.”

Brown called Bottom and Holder the day of the shooting because he wanted their help to get rid of Frazer, who had been arguing with Brown’s girlfriend’s mother during the night, according to sheriff’s reports.

Holder grabbed his 9mm semi-automatic handgun and showed up at Brown’s house. Frazer ran away, but the three men tracked him down a few blocks away. Holder shot Frazer twice after he spotted him in the front yard of a house along Howell Avenue.

Neighbors called 911, but Frazer was dead by the time paramedics arrived.

Holder and his accomplices were picked up later that day. After five hours of being interviewed, Holder admitted to shooting Frazer, according to court testimony.

Holder yawned moments after entering the courtroom Wednesday. He showed no emotion. He waved to his family after being fingerprinted and thanked the judge after he was sentenced.

Carlene Frazer didn’t take her eyes off Holder. She studied his body language and expressions. She said she was offended by his demeanor.

She had no room in her heart for him.

“I saw no remorse,” Frazer said. “I saw no sadness. I did not see that in him … I have no remorse for him. For all I care, he could rot in prison. I’m sorry to say it, but that’s how I feel.”

[email protected] (352) 544-5283