PHILADELPHIA – A 31-year-old woman was sentenced today to life in prison for her role in a 2004 firebombing that killed six members of a federal witness’s family, federal prosecutors said
Kidada Savage is the sister of Kaboni Savage who ordered the Oct. 9, 2004 firebombing and who was sentenced to death for 12 counts of murder in aid of racketeering.
Kidada Savage was convicted on May 13, 2013, of six counts of murder in aid of racketeering, all related to the firebombing of Eugene Coleman’s family home. Coleman was a federal witness at the time. Six people, including four children, were killed in the arson.
Before U.S. District Judge R. Barclay Surrick issued the mandatory sentence, Savage, sister of drug lord Kaboni Savage, insisted she was not guilty, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
“Your honor, I was railroaded,” Savage told the court. “I admit this was a tragedy. . . . I know I did nothing wrong” according to the Inquirer.
Kaboni and Kidada Savage were also convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, retaliating against a witness by murder and using fire to commit a felony.
Kidada Savage acted as a go-between for her brother, who was in federal custody awaiting a drug trial, and Lamont Lewis, who committed the firebombing.
Lewis pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
Robert Merritt and Steven Northington were also convicted in the case. Northington was sentenced to life; Merritt is awaiting sentencing.