Harris sentenced in macabre slaying at Perris Hill in San Bernardino
Jason Lamar Harris was sentenced to 50-years-to-life in state prison Friday for his role in the deadly stabbing and near decapitation of 22-year-old Terry Ray Taylor in 2003.
Harris, 25, pleaded guilty in March to Ray's murder on Perris Hill in San Bernardino in May 2003. A co-defendant in the case, Amber Rose Riley, 21, is still awaiting trial.
For months before the attack, Harris and Riley, who were friends with the victim, had reportedly talked about killing a person. The night before the slaying, Riley had watched the horror movie "Satan's School for Girls" to pump herself up, prosecutors have previously said.
Harris and Riley lured Taylor on a walk up Perris Hill on May 23, 2003, while they recited the lyrics to the song "Disasterpiece," by the band Slipknot, police and prosecutors said in earlier interviews.
The pair reportedly targeted Taylor because they believed he was weak, according to prosecutors. He was stabbed in the back more than 20 times and was nearly decapitated after the defendants sawed on his neck with butcher knives, prosecutors said in August 2004.
Deputy District Attorney Karen Khim said she was pleased with the outcome of Harris' case, and she did not reveal whether the defendant could have a future role in any trial for Riley.
"I can't say for certain at this time," Khim said, via a brief telephone interview Friday.
Court records state that Harris was granted "pro per" status - which allows him to defend himself in court - in January 2007.
Harris will receive credit for the 1,894 days, or more than five years, he has already served in custody, prosecutors said.
Riley is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 12 for a pretrial hearing, according to court records.
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