The Dorchester man convicted of gunning down 17-year-old Thomas Webb was sentenced to life in prison today, but not before the slain youth’s family mourned his loss in Suffolk Superior Court, District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

A jury convicted ELBERT NEWSON (D.O.B. 12/9/88) of first-degree murder and unlawful firearm possession today, just over a week after his trial on those charges began. Judge Christine McEvoy imposed the mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Prior to that, though, Webb’s sisters and niece took the witness stand to reflect on how his violent death – which took place as he reached down to pet a dog on Parker Street on an autumn night three years ago – affected their family.

Webb’s older sister recalled her “baby brother” and what he brought to her young children.
“My children no longer have their uncle T.T. to play video games with, do homework with, have fashion shows with, and make grilled cheese sandwiches with,” she said, telling the court of the joy her 1-year-old son would display when Webb called out to him, “Where’s my little man!”
Webb’s younger cousin, unable to read through her tears, submitted a written statement that was read by her mother after “three years, two months, and 14 days without someone I spent 15 years with.”

“My inspiration was stolen from my world,” she wrote. “I am so sorry this had to happen.”
Assistant District Attorneys David Fredette and Julie Higgins proved at trial that Newson was one of two men who drove up to the area of Parker and Heath streets, jumped from a car, and opened fire on Webb, killing him.

Nearby Boston Police officers heard the shooting, raced toward it, and became involved in a motor vehicle pursuit that ended near the Academy Homes housing development, into which the passenger fled. Newson was apprehended on Notre Dame Street a short time later, and his fingerprint was recovered from a .38 caliber handgun found on the car’s front seat. A second .45 caliber handgun tossed from the car was ballistically linked to the homicide as well.

Katherine Moran was the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. Newson was represented by attorney Stephen Neyman.