A 21-year-old man who set up the robbery of a friend that ended in murder was sentenced Wednesday in San Mateo County Superior Court to 25 years to life in prison, a prosecutor said.
Neil Chand will have to serve 25 years before he is eligible for parole in the killing of 21-year-old Shivnesh Reddy, who was gunned down Oct. 28, 2009, as he tried to sell a pound of marijuana in South San Francisco, said District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. The mandatory sentence came after the family of the victim told of the pain they had suffered since the murder. "He'll be on the next bus to San Quentin," Wagstaffe said.
Chand accepted the sentence as part of a plea deal in which he agreed to testify against Jimmy Nabong, the 19-year-old gang member convicted of pulling the trigger. Prosecutors said Chand set up a robbery after Reddy came to him asking for help selling some pot. Chand was driving the car the day of the murder, with Nabong in the passenger seat and Reddy in back. When Nabong pulled out a gun and told Reddy to hand over the marijuana, the victim refused and was shot once in the chest. Reddy tumbled out of the car and died in the street.
Jurors convicted Nabong on Feb. 24 of robbery and murder charges. He faces 50 years to life in prison or life without parole when he is sentenced May 6.
Nabong also faces new charges for severely beating, along with six other men, a rival gang member in San Mateo County jail, according to authorities.
He laughed off the new charges, saying he is doing life in prison, Wagstaffe said.