Sida Osman's Killer Sentenced To 23 Years For Murdering 5-Year-Old With Bowling Ball

Teen Sentenced For Killing 5-Year-Old With Bowling Ball
This photo provided by the Fort Worth, Texas Police Dept. shows Sida Osman, 5. The body of Osman was discovered in the backyard of a house in Fort Worth, Texas on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. A 13-year-old North Texas boy faces a capital murder charge in the death of Sida Osman who was hit in the head multiple times, authorities said. The teen, whose name is being withheld because he is a juvenile, was arrested Thursday in the death of Osman. Because he is younger than 14, the suspect is not eligible to stand trial as an adult, according to the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office. His case is in juvenile court. (AP Photo/Fort Worth Police Handout)
This photo provided by the Fort Worth, Texas Police Dept. shows Sida Osman, 5. The body of Osman was discovered in the backyard of a house in Fort Worth, Texas on Wednesday, June 26, 2013. A 13-year-old North Texas boy faces a capital murder charge in the death of Sida Osman who was hit in the head multiple times, authorities said. The teen, whose name is being withheld because he is a juvenile, was arrested Thursday in the death of Osman. Because he is younger than 14, the suspect is not eligible to stand trial as an adult, according to the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office. His case is in juvenile court. (AP Photo/Fort Worth Police Handout)

A 14-year-old in Texas was sentenced to 23 years in prison Wednesday for killing a 5-year-old boy with a bowling ball.

The Fort Worth teen, whose name has not been released, received the sentence as part of a capital murder plea deal in the death of Sida Osman, according to KHOU.

Osman disappeared while riding his bike in June. His body was found the next day in the backyard of a vacant house about a block from where he lived.

Osman's mother said she did not know the boy who murdered her son. Prosecutors said the teen killed Osman because the 5-year-old was "pestering" him earlier that day by trying to accompany him to the store.

Osman threw a 14-pound bowling ball at the child's head, then straddled the fallen boy and threw the ball onto his head a second time, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported. Police said the teen described the act as "like spiking a football."

Rick Stokes, founder of the Stokes Christian Boys Home, said at the time that the teenager had "a lot of rage and anger in him." The teen was involved with the home for several years, and according to Stokes, had a history of violence, theft and running away. The teen was staying with his mother, not at the home, during the time of the murder.

Though the teen is most likely to remain in the juvenile justice system until age 19, he may be transferred as early as age 16, according to KHOU. Prosecutors said that while the teen could be paroled before getting transferred to the adult prison system, the possibility is unlikely.

When he pleaded guilty Wednesday, the teen told the court, "I just want the family to know I'm sorry."

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