James Butler

Case record: James Butler Jr.

Background

James Butler Jr. (born December 18, 1972 in Harlem, New York) was a former American light heavyweight boxer and former USBA super middleweight champion. He was nicknamed "The Harlem Hammer." His career record was 20-5-0, with 12 wins coming by way of knockout.

Butler began his career by scoring 18 wins and only 1 loss in the supermiddleweight division. He then had a title fight against Sven Ottke, who beat Butler by unanimous decision. His infamy began with actions after a nationally-televised bout on November 23, 2001 at the Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan, New York. After losing by unanimous decision to Richard "The Alien" Grant, Butler had his gloves removed and went to Grant's side of the ring for an expected exchange of congratulations. Butler then hit Grant with a right hook to the jaw. Grant’s jaw was badly broken. Butler was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.

Butler’s last bout was a split-decision loss on August 10, 2004 to Omar Sheika.

The offence

Murder of Sam Kellerman

On October 12, 2004, writer Sam Kellerman (brother of boxing analyst Max Kellerman) was murdered. His body was found on October 17.

Prosecutors claimed Butler repeatedly struck Kellerman in the head with a hammer. Prosecutors also claimed Butler torched Kellerman's Hollywood, California apartment in an attempted coverup. Kellerman’s body was found in his Hollywood apartment on October 17, 2004 near a hammer. Authorities believed Kellerman had been killed five days earlier. Police said Kellerman had been bludgeoned around the head about 30 times while sitting at his desktop computer. A hammer was found near Kellerman's body, his car was missing, and his apartment was set on fire.

Alleged motive

The suspected motive for the murder was that Kellerman was forcing Butler to move out of Kellerman's apartment. Prosecutors believed the attack came as Butler was having a tough time reviving his career and was depressed about a souring relationship with his girlfriend, who was the mother of his child. Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, said:

"It's possible Mr. Kellerman asked him to move out or there was a disagreement over how long he could stay with him and it resulted in him picking up a hammer," she said.

Robison also said:

"The judge called it 'a slaughter.'"

Investigation

Butler was considered a suspect. It was stated that Butler had been friends with Kellerman for ten years.

Prosecutors claimed Butler was the only suspect in the case.

Arrest

On October 20, Butler, accompanied by a lawyer, sought treatment for his alleged bipolar disorder.

Butler was arrested for the Kellerman slaying on October 27.

He was held on $1.25 million bail.

Trial

Plea

On March 27, 2006, Butler pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and arson in the 2004 death of Kellerman as jury selection was set to begin in his trial.

Deputy Public Defender Jack Keenan said:

"I think it's a fair resolution of the case," Keenan said. "He's always been sorry for what he did, and in the end he thought of Sam Kellerman as a friend."

The original count of murder was dismissed against the former USBA super middleweight champion.

Sentencing

On April 5, Butler was sentenced to 29 years, four months in prison.

Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor reduced the sentence of 29 years and four months by 613 days to account for time Butler spent in custody since four days after the killing, said Superior Court spokeswoman Pat Kelly.

Deputy Public Defender Jack Keenan was cited as the person who stated Butler would be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor.

Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, said Butler was ordered to pay:

• $17,853 in funeral expenses to Kellerman's family
• $10,000 to the state's victim restitution fund
• $11,882 to the owner of the victim's apartment, which was left torched and blood-soaked after the killing

Timeline

• November 23, 2001 — After losing by unanimous decision to Richard "The Alien" Grant at the Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan, Butler hit Grant with a right hook to the jaw; Butler was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.
• August 10, 2004 — Butler had a split-decision loss to Omar Sheika.
• October 12, 2004 — Writer Sam Kellerman was murdered.
• October 17, 2004 — Kellerman’s body was found.
• October 20, 2004 — Butler, accompanied by a lawyer, sought treatment for his alleged bipolar disorder.
• October 27, 2004 — Butler was arrested for the Kellerman slaying; he was held on $1.25 million bail.
• July 8, 2005 — A Los Angeles judge ruled there was sufficient evidence for Butler to stand trial on charges of murder and arson.
• March 27, 2006 — Butler pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and arson in the 2004 death of Kellerman.
• April 5, 2006 — Butler was sentenced to 29 years and four months in prison.

Other details

Butler and Kellerman had been friends and Butler had been staying at Kellerman’s apartment since late September, police said.

It was stated that Butler fought under the nickname "The Harlem Hammer."