Judge rips man who killed his neighborher adult son and daughter who'd accused him of molestation

A judge lashed out at a North Carolina man as he sentenced him to life in jail for murdering his neighbor and his family.

Jonathan Sander was sentenced to life in prison on Monday for the triple murder of his neighbors who had accused him of child molestation following an ongoing feud.

He was convicted on April 8 of first-degree murder in the shotgun slayings of Sandy Mazzella, his wife Stephenie Mazzella, and Sandy's mother Elaine Mazzella. 

Jonathan Sander, (pictured), was sentenced to life in prison for the triple murder of his neighbors who had accused him of child molestation after a long-running feud

Jonathan Sander was convicted on April 8 of first-degree murder in the shotgun slayings of Sandy Mazzella, his wife Stephenie Mazzella, (together, left) and Sandy's mother Elaine Mazzella (right)

In recorded footage after the shootings, Sander told a sheriff’s detective that he shot Sandy Mazzella for 'revenge' so that 'his family would be hurt like my family.' 

Judge Graham Shirley cut Sander off on Monday when he began addressing jurors directly after sentencing him.

The judge grew particularly irritated when Sal Mazzella, the father of Sandy and husband of Elaine, became emotional during his victim impact statement and Sander mockingly clapped his hands at his remarks.

Judge Shirley told him that he likely would have faced only a 16 to 29-month sentence for indecent liberties with a child, and even that would have been served as probation given his lack of a prior criminal record.  

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In footage of the hearing obtained by WLOS, Judge Shirley told him: 'You sir are going to be housed with the most violent criminals in this state. 

'People who have committed murder but have not been sentenced to death who are meaner and more violent than you.

He added: 'When you lay your head on your pillow tonight and you hear that iron lock click for the first night of your first time in Central Prison, when the lights go dark, I want you to think about that two minute period that was described in which you ruined the lives of not only your family but the Mazellas.'

The three- week trial included frequent outbursts from Sander, who mockingly clapped during victim impact statements. He was told by Jon Sander was told by Supreme Court Judge Graham Shirley, (right),  that he 'would die alone'

Judge Graham Shirley, (far right),  had harsh words for Sander during sentencing (standing left), telling him: 'You'll die alone, you won't even be a footnote'

Shirley said that he had learned from weeks in court that Sander is attracted to the spotlight and claimed that much of his speech was addressed to news cameras. He also branded his actions 'selfish and cowardly.'

Judge Shirley added: 'I want you to realize that if you live out your life expectancy of 25.1 years, that two-minute period is going to have to repeat itself six million 500 and 78,000 times before you take your last breath.

'When you take your last breath, you're going to die alone and you're going to die forgotten all because of this action. Now get him out of my courtroom.' 

The court heard previously how Sander and Mazzella had been best friends and partners in a lawn and landscaping business.

The court heard previously how Sandy Mazzella, (left) and Sander, (right), had been best friends and partners in a lawn and landscaping business

In recorded footage after the shootings, Sander told a sheriff’s detective that he shot Sandy Mazzella (pictured with his wife) for 'revenge' so that 'his family would be hurt like my family'

However their friendship turned sour and escalated into a feud over money and business disagreements. The matter finally came to a head when the Mazzella family accused Sander of molesting an underage member of their family.

Evidence was given that before the murders that Sander drank six Shock Top beers at Buffalo Brothers in Wake Forest.

He then took his shotgun and burst into his neighbors’ house screaming: 'Child molester? Really, Sandy?.'

Throughout the trial, Sander repeatedly lashed out at Sal Mazzella, even when he became emotional about witnessing his family’s murder.

Sander subsequently gave an incoherent speech disputing the evidence, insulting his attorneys and accusing others for his crimes.

Sal Mazzella (pictured), the father of Sandy and husband of Elaine, read an emotional two-page statement before the sentencing. He thanked the judge and everyone else who supported him

Sal Mazella told Sander that he did not hate him but was interrupted by Sander's frequent outbursts in court 

'Everything’s a lie and a sham,' he said, handcuffed as he shuffled through notes. 

'On my appeal, you’ll see what justice is. You’re sentencing a good man to life, and that’s not going to fly.'

ABC 11 reported that he leveled accusations at the Mazzellas, alleging there were drug problems, lies, and romantic overtures directed at him.

He subsequently began to criticize his own attorney and questioned the defense he had laid out.

At that point, the judge told him last week: 'Come Monday, these people watching this stream are going to be watching something else. You won't even be a footnote.'

Sal Mazzella, the father of Sandy and husband of Elaine, read an emotional two-page statement before the sentencing. He thanked the judge and those who supported him. 

ABC 11 reported him as saying: 'I used to tell my wife, Elaine, that hate should be taken out of the dictionary,' Sal Mazzella said. 'My dear wife, Elaine, was a loving, caring person.'

'My son, Sandy, cared about people. My son never expressed hate. I still cannot understand why you hated my son so much. It baffles me.'

The Mazzellas' other son, Nicholas, read also read a victim impact statement and said Sanders' actions had destroyed his family.

He said:  'Was what you did really worth the consequences?. You have killed my family and your don't even get to see your kids anymore.'

A statement written by Stephenie's mother Karen Maggio, Stephenie's mother was also read in court as she was unable to attend the hearing.

'My daughter would protect those she loved at any cost. 'She was full of life with her happy smile all the time ... loving, thoughtful, caring, lifting in so many ways. 

'It is very difficult for me to grasp that I will never be able to talk to her or with her, or hug her again. I miss her every day, every hour, and every minute. my heart cries for her.'

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