Editor’s note: As we approach 2013, we’re taking a look back at our top stories of 2012. From Friday, Dec. 28, through New Year’s Day, we will publish the top 20 stories since Port City Daily’s launch in September. Port City Daily’s top stories were determined by readership. The story below was first published Dec. 1.
Brunswick County jurors on Friday convicted Daniel Brennick, 25, of second-degree murder for the death of Satu Harris, a 38-year-old single mother of three from Oak Island.
Jurors deliberated for about an hour late Friday morning before returning the guilty verdict.
In addition to second-degree murder, jurors found Brennick guilty of driving while impaired and felony death by motor vehicle in the May 7, 2010, fatal wreck.
Superior Court Judge Thomas Lock sentenced Brennick to 180-225 months—or 15 to 18 years and nine months—in the North Carolina Department of Corrections.
Following the verdict, Assistant District Attorney Gina Essey called on Satu Harris’ sister to give her victim’s impact statement.
Liisa Abbatiello said her family was moving into a new home on May 7, 2010. Harris sent her a text message earlier that day, but Abbatiello didn’t have time to respond.
Satu Harris was Abbatiello’s only sister. When she received the phone call about Harris’ death from her father, she was devastated. She said Harris was no ordinary person—she was extraordinary.
Around 4 a.m. the morning following Harris’ death, Abbatiello said her and her family had to make a decision whether to donate her organs. Harris’ mother did not want her body cut open, so they allowed her eyes to be donated.
“Satu didn’t leave a will,” Abbatiello said. “So we had to guess what she would have wanted.”
Abbatiello said she was given the jewelry Harris wore the day she was killed, including a ring she hasn’t taken off since Harris’ death.
“I needed to see some proof that she really was dead. I asked to see her crushed car. Well, I got my proof—the force with which she was hit made that car so unrecognizable. It looked like a poster car to teach people not to drink and drive.”
Abbatiello then addressed Brennick personally.
“Daniel Brennick, you need to pay for taking Satu’s life. Massive multiple trauma was the cause of her death. I hope to God she didn’t see you coming. I’d hate to think of what her last thought was. Your actions have forever changed so many people’s lives, including her own family, and witnesses to this crime,” Abbatiello said.
The court also received an impact statement from Harris’ best friend, Jeff Ezzelle, and written impact statements from Satu’s mother, father and 18-year-old daughter.
Essey asked that the court to sentence Brennick at “the very top of the presumptive range of sentencing.” Defense attorney Mike Ramos asked the court for a sentence of five years.
Daniel Brennick addressed the court following the victims’ statements.
“The court spoke the whole time about sympathy and I understand that sympathy for me shouldn’t be here. I have sympathy for Satu Harris and her family as a result of my actions,” Brennick said.
Brennick said when he wakes up in the morning to put on his leg to walk to the mirror and looks into it, he is reminded of this every day. His leg was amputated as a result of injuries sustained in the wreck that killed Harris.
In her closing statement Friday morning, Essey told jurors Brennick used his car as a “weapon,” when he killed Harris, who was driving home from work on May 7, 2010. Brennick hit Harris head-on, and she was killed instantly.
Ramos said Brennick had sympathy for Harris’ family, but added it was an “unintentional death.” Ramos told jurors no one identified Brennick as the driver that night.
“There is no credible evidence that Brennick was operating that vehicle,” Ramos said.
Following Brennick’s sentencing, Ramos said Brennick planned to appeal the conviction.
Reach Christina Haley at (910) 772-6337 or [email protected].
