Gretna man gets 18 years in killing

RUSTBURG — A Gretna man was sentenced to 18 years in prison Thursday afternoon for the second-degree murder of a Petersburg man in Altavista last summer.

Mack Wayne Pannell, 49, of Gretna entered an Alford plea in March in the June 2007 stabbing death of Herman Kelly Sr., who was 35.

An Alford plea means the accused does not admit guilt, but admits enough evidence exists to be found guilty.

In an October bond hearing, Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul McAndrews told the court that Pannell stabbed Kelly to death in a fight over a woman.

McAndrews said Kelly’s wife had been staying with one of Pannell’s friends in Altavista. When Kelly came to the boyfriend’s home, he was confronted by Pannell and at least two other men who got into a shoving match.

When Kelly was hit in the head with a beer bottle by one of the men, he struck back, McAndrews said. Pannell then stabbed Kelly in the torso seven times, the prosecutor told the court.

On Thursday, McAndrews asked for the maximum 40-year sentence. The family chose not to testify.

“There’s nothing to say about their brother except that he was stabbed to death by this man for no reason,” the prosecutor said.

He also criticized Pannell’s claims of self-defense in a sentencing report. After riding with another man to confront the victim, Pannell got out of the car to join the fight, McAndrews said, with a folding knife locked open.

“He interjected himself into a fight he had no business being in,” he said.

Defense attorney Scott DeBruin argued 40 years was excessive.

“We’re here looking for justice, not vengeance,” DeBruin said.

Campbell County Circuit Court Judge John Cook sentenced Pannell to 30 years with all but 18 years suspended.