'KILL OR BE KILLED' DEFENDANT GETS 23 YEARS

A Paterson man was sentenced to 23 years in state prison Friday for
killing a drug dealer who he owed $1,200 because he feared the dealer
was out to kill him first.

Damian Anderson, 30, will have to serve 85 percent of his term under
sentencing imposed by state Superior Court Judge Raymond A. Reddin in
Paterson. He previously pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter in
connection with the shooting.

Anderson was originally charged with murder in the Aug. 16, 2007,
killing of 30-year-old city resident Anroy Carnegie on 11th Avenue
near East 28th Street in Paterson.

"It seems like every week I read about some kind of drug-related
killing," Reddin said, in imposing his sentence. "Here, the victim,
Mr. Carnegie, sold a pound of marijuana to Mr. Anderson. Mr. Anderson
didn't pay for it, and was under the impression that Mr. Carnegie
was looking to kill him. Under the theory of kill or be killed, he
shoots him dead," the judge said.

"We're reverting to the law of the jungle. Kill or be killed," the
judge added. "Paterson is becoming the Wild West. Families are being
destroyed."

Anderson apologized to relatives of the victim, who were seated in
the audience. "I would like to say to the family: Keep your kids out
of the streets." He later added: "I would like to apologize for the
pain I have caused."

Teniasha Simpson, who identified herself as the victim's girlfriend,
addressed the defendant. "We all knew each other. You knew you could
have talked to him," she said. "You knew it could have been settled
in a different way."

Anderson drove around until he spotted the victim and shot him nine
times, according to authorities. "You executed him on the side of the
road like a dog. He's not a dog," Simpson said. "He was a father. He
was a friend. He was your friend."

Rose Parkes, the victim's sister, said Carnegie was planning his
daughter's birthday party around the time of his death. "She was his
pride and joy and you took that way," she said. "Because of $1,200,
you shot him nine times. You have no remorse. You are a monster, and
I hope you rot in hell."