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SALT LAKE CITY — A man who was convicted of first-degree murder after he punched another inmate over 20 times at the Salt Lake County Jail, ultimately killing him, was sentenced on Thursday to 15 years to life in prison.
Kitiona Kitiona Lolani Jr., 26, of West Valley City, was found guilty by a jury on April 1 of murdering 38-year-old Daniel Davis, of Salt Lake City.
A video from the prison that day, Aug. 4, 2018, shows Lolani continuing to punch Davis while he is on the ground, and not fighting back, according to court documents. Davis' family said at the sentencing the fight was over the outcome of a card game and Lolani had spoken to his wife on the phone from the jail previously about his intent to harm Davis.
Davis' family, including his mother, a sister and an aunt, spoke to the judge and to Lolani about the harm Davis' death has caused them.
"Today is about justice for my little brother. Never again will I have a little brother. I'll never be able to tease my little brother. I miss his joking nature, his laughter," Davis' sister said.
His mom talked about how her son was loving and a good father.
"You not only took away my only son, you took away a father, a brother, a grandson, an uncle and a cousin," she told Lolani.
She said she hopes her son's death was not in vain. Although she can't have her son back, she hopes Lolani can be kept from committing another heinous crime.
Davis' aunt said he was an organ donor, and so he was temporarily kept alive to save his organs so he could save others' lives.
Deputy district attorney Adam Blanch asked for the new sentence to run consecutively with the sentences for which Lolani is currently serving time, noting that Lolani's violent history goes back to 2009 when he was in his early teenage years and that assaults by Lolani have continued since then. Blanch said Lolani knew what he was capable of but still continued to punch Davis.
Katherine Conyers, Lolani's attorney, asked for the sentences to run concurrently and said her client takes responsibility for his actions.
"He did intend this just to be a fight and just that, and is incredibly remorseful for what did happen with Mr. Davis," Conyers said.
Lolani apologized and invited Davis' family to reach out if there is anything he or his family can do for them.
"I have nothing but love for you guys. Again, I apologize for everything that's happened," he said.
Judge Randall Skanchy agreed with Conyers and ruled that Loloni's sentence will run at the same time as any others, meaning Lolani could have an opportunity for a parole hearing in 15 years at the earliest.
"That period of time seems like it gives someone an opportunity to undertake the sort of self-reflection, evaluation and maturation that's necessary to be a citizen without shackles, a citizen of the community that builds people up instead of tears them down," Skanchy said.
Davis was in jail because he was charged with one third-degree felony count of violation of a jail release agreement, and multiple misdemeanor charges for assault, domestic violence and violating a jail release agreement. Lolani was sentenced to a year in jail after pleading guilty to assault with substantial injuries and drug possession and had multiple other assault charges including one which was scheduled for trial a month after this incident.
