On Wednesday, the man accused of brutally beating a woman with a shovel in 2008 was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Family and friends of the victim, Brittani Marcell, filled the courtroom as they awaited the news.Justin Hansen, 34, pleaded no contest to two second-degree felony charges in April. Emotions ran high throughout the hearing, which went on for more than three hours. "He didn't kill me, but he did take my life from me," Marcell said. Marcell stood before a room full people and the man who will be locked up for 18 years for nearly killing her. Hansen also spoke in court. "I want to apologize to Brittani and Diane and their family for everything they've been through. I can't imagine the struggles they've faced," Hansen said. Watch the full three-hour hearing below: Here’s a breakdown of the case: When did this happen? On Sept. 11, 2008, police said, 17-year-old Marcell was walking home from Cibola High School to have lunch with her mother. When she got inside, someone attacked her, almost beating her to death with a shovel. She believes she only survived because her mother walked in on the attack. What were her injuries? Marcell had to relearn how to speak, walk, eat and drink because of the beating. She's also blind in her left eye and deaf in her left ear. At first, she did not remember much of what happened that afternoon. But two years ago, bits and pieces of that day started coming back to her. We spoke to her exclusively in 2015, as she described what she believed her attacker looked like. "A part of me wants to know what happened. The other part of me doesn't want to know because I don't want to have to relive the whole trauma once again," she said. How was Hansen arrested? Court documents show Marcell eventually remembered a name. She called the Albuquerque Police Department in October 2017 and mentioned Justin Hansen. She recalled him visiting her while she worked at Cottonwood Mall. Investigators said they questioned Hansen, who refused to give them a sample of his DNA. So, instead, they swiped a cup from which he had taken a drink. They said his DNA matched the DNA from the crime scene.That DNA evidence was taken from a single drop of blood at the scene of the crime but, until last year, wasn't linked to any person.Tests confirmed the DNA was a match to the blood found at the crime scene. "That droplet of blood is pretty profound for me. It wouldn't be there unless Mr. Hansen was there. It wouldn't be on that glass unless Mr. Hansen was there," Judge Cindy Leos said Wednesday.Just moments after the hearing, the Marcell family spoke with Action 7 News. They said they did not think the judge would hand down the maximum sentence. But they are glad she did. The Marcell family said today's hearing is one step in the direction of closure. Sasha Lenninger, Shellye Leggett and Jozelyn Escobedo contributed to this story.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
On Wednesday, the man accused of brutally beating a woman with a shovel in 2008 was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Family and friends of the victim, Brittani Marcell, filled the courtroom as they awaited the news.
Justin Hansen, 34, pleaded no contest to two second-degree felony charges in April.
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Emotions ran high throughout the hearing, which went on for more than three hours.
"He didn't kill me, but he did take my life from me," Marcell said.
Marcell stood before a room full people and the man who will be locked up for 18 years for nearly killing her.
Hansen also spoke in court.
"I want to apologize to Brittani and Diane and their family for everything they've been through. I can't imagine the struggles they've faced," Hansen said.
Watch the full three-hour hearing below:
Here’s a breakdown of the case:
When did this happen?
On Sept. 11, 2008, police said, 17-year-old Marcell was walking home from Cibola High School to have lunch with her mother. When she got inside, someone attacked her, almost beating her to death with a shovel. She believes she only survived because her mother walked in on the attack.
What were her injuries?
Marcell had to relearn how to speak, walk, eat and drink because of the beating. She's also blind in her left eye and deaf in her left ear. At first, she did not remember much of what happened that afternoon. But two years ago, bits and pieces of that day started coming back to her. We spoke to her exclusively in 2015, as she described what she believed her attacker looked like. "A part of me wants to know what happened. The other part of me doesn't want to know because I don't want to have to relive the whole trauma once again," she said.
How was Hansen arrested?
Court documents show Marcell eventually remembered a name. She called the Albuquerque Police Department in October 2017 and mentioned Justin Hansen. She recalled him visiting her while she worked at Cottonwood Mall. Investigators said they questioned Hansen, who refused to give them a sample of his DNA. So, instead, they swiped a cup from which he had taken a drink. They said his DNA matched the DNA from the crime scene.
That DNA evidence was taken from a single drop of blood at the scene of the crime but, until last year, wasn't linked to any person.
Tests confirmed the DNA was a match to the blood found at the crime scene.
"That droplet of blood is pretty profound for me. It wouldn't be there unless Mr. Hansen was there. It wouldn't be on that glass unless Mr. Hansen was there," Judge Cindy Leos said Wednesday.
Just moments after the hearing, the Marcell family spoke with Action 7 News. They said they did not think the judge would hand down the maximum sentence. But they are glad she did. The Marcell family said today's hearing is one step in the direction of closure.
Sasha Lenninger, Shellye Leggett and Jozelyn Escobedo contributed to this story.
