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Michigan Groom Sentenced to at Least 30 Years for Killing Groomsman on Wedding Night

The punishment reflects prosecutors' claim of an intentional SUV strike during a drunken dispute.

Overview

  • James Shirah, who pleaded no contest in April, was sentenced Monday in Genesee County to a minimum of 30 years in prison.
  • The court set 30 to 45 years for second-degree murder and concurrent 10 to 15 year terms for driving with a suspended license causing death and for failing to stop at a fatal crash.
  • Investigators said an alcohol-fueled argument after the Aug. 30, 2024 wedding in Flint ended when Shirah left, returned, and hit groomsman Terry Taylor Jr., 29, with an SUV.
  • Shirah told the court he did not intend to kill his friend, but Judge Khary L. Hanible called him a killer and set parole eligibility after 30 years.
  • Shirah’s wife, Savanah Collier, pleaded no contest to accessory after the fact and is scheduled for sentencing on May 26.