Local

Man sentenced in hammer attack that killed elderly woman, disabled son

TACOMA, Wash. — The man who killed an elderly woman and her disabled son with a hammer has been sentenced for his crime.

Nicholas Lane, 28, was sentenced to 40 years in prison.

As he sat next to his attorney, Lane apologized for what happened on Sept. 8, 2015.

“I don’t feel words can justify what happened except for the guilt I will carry every day for the rest of my life," he said.

Prosecutors said Lane attacked 78-year-old Joyce Coffel and her 57-year-old disabled son, Clifford Bennett.

“Though I have no memory of what happened,” said Lane, “I want to take responsibility for my action.”

Lane used a hammer to beat Coffel and Bennett to death.

Coffel, who was attacked while sitting on a recliner, died a week later from her injuries.

Lane said on that day,

he was high was meth and heroin and had been awake for days.

“What makes this case stands out is how horribly cruel this particular murder was,” said Judge Stephanie Arend, who also said Lane deserves maximum punishment.

The victim’s family was in the courtroom and breathed a sign of relief when the sentence was announced.

Members of Lane’s family, was alsoincluding his mother, were also in the courtroom.

We talked to Carl White, a family friend who was staying at the house at which the attack happened.

He called 911 that day, after finding the victims.

“It’s tough but I have to forgive him,” said White. I"I just can’t forget. It will stick with me for the rest of my life.”