*Correction: This story originally read ‘Popov was killed Jan. 2, 2002’ this has been corrected to: Jan. 20, 2002. The correct date of Popov’s death*

More than two years after murdering Syracuse University graduate student Simeon Popov, Dominic ‘D Murder’ Dennard Jr. was sentenced yesterday to 75 years in prison.

The court assessed the maximum penalty against Dennard in response to the guilty verdict of charges of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The sentence ensures that, unless parole is granted, Dennard will remain in prison until he is at least 98 years old.

‘This was an assassination committed by a cold-blooded, heartless, unfeeling villain,’ said Prosecutor Nick DeMartino to Judge Joseph Fahey during sentencing, according to court documents. ‘Simeon Popov came to this country seeking an American dream, Judge, and instead he met his worst nightmare, and that was Dominic Dennard.’

While Dennard had nothing to say in his defense, his lawyer, Scott Porter, defended the character of his client, although he acknowledged that no argument could sway the court’s decision.

‘Dominic Dennard is one of the most courteous, gracious, pleasant people I ever represented,’ Porter said. ‘It is irreconcilable with the person you’re about to sentence.’

Fahey was unmoved, saying he desired to remove Dennard from society for as long as possible.

‘None of us now will ever know what beauty Simeon Popov might have created in this world. We will never know whether he might have been the next Bach or the next Beethoven,’ Fahey said. ‘You snuffed out his talents and creativity, and you left this world a darker place as a result of it. My only regret this morning, Mr. Dennard, is that I cannot sentence you to life without the possibility of parole.’

Popov’s parents returned to Bulgaria after the verdict was delivered but arranged for William Harris, an SU professor of music and mentor to Popov, to read a letter on their behalf.

‘We remain on this earth, parents, who are neither alive nor dead, who have nothing left,’ Harris read. ‘Our home is now turned to dust, and the most sacred place in the world which we can call our home is our child’s grave.

‘We live in pain and die little by little every day.’

Despite their pain, however, they said the verdict and efforts of DeMartino have restored their faith in justice, and have given them heart for the future.

‘Now we no longer have to look down before his portraits. Now we can look at him, in the dear good eyes and say Moni, Simeon, our son, we were here and we saw your murderer in chains, condemned by the people,’ Harris read.

They were especially critical of the man that killed their son.

‘We damn you, Dominic Dennard. We will damn you every moment that we live,’ Harris read. ‘Society has banished you from its world, but God’s court awaits you as well.’

Lt. Tom Connellan of the Syracuse Police Department credited the verdict and sentence to DeMartino and the other law enforcement officials involved in bringing Dennard to justice.

‘He did an outstanding job. He put in an incredible amount of time, his own personal time,’ Connellan said. ‘It was the type of case that was truly about an innocent victim, and a lot of people put a lot of hard work and time into it.’

Connellan said the role of illegal drugs in the murder was especially tragic.

‘Simeon Popov had nothing to do with drugs, but lost his life because of it,’ Connellan said. ‘(It happened all) because a couple of kids were trying to buy drugs.’

Popov was killed Jan. 20, 2002 during his second day on the job when he walked in on an armed robbery while making a delivery from Dorian’s Pizza and Deli to a house on Ostrom Avenue.

Skeptical of the authenticity of the robbery, Popov tried to leave, saying he had other deliveries to do. Witnesses said Dennard struggled with Popov, and upon pulling the trigger the first time, the gun misfired.

During Popov’s second attempt to leave, Dennard shot him in the face at point blank range and then forced the robbery victims to loot Popov’s body, according to court testimony.

Dennard left the apartment shortly after, and absconded to the Bronx, where he was apprehended May 2002 by a task force composed of Syracuse and New York police officers.

The first attempt to hear the case ended in a mistrial last June, with the jury split 7-5.

The addition of witnesses who could place Dennard in Syracuse at the time of the murder and more evidence and testimony lead to a stronger case by the prosecution, Porter said after the reading of the verdict.

In the second trial, Dennard took the stand in his own defense, saying he had nothing to do with the slaying.

Jury members found Dennard guilty in the second trial, but acquitted him of first-degree murder and intentional second-degree murder, which shocked many involved with the case.

‘That was not something we asked the jury to do,’ Porter said after the verdict was delivered. ‘Our focus was strictly on raising reasonable doubt about the identity of the perpetrator.’

Dennard was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections, and DeMartino said that he could spend 75 years in jail before having the option of parole.

Published on November 19, 2008 at 12:00 pm