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Victim's dad rushes convicted killer in court

Posted at 11:45 AM, Jun 02, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-03 08:54:09-04

CLEVELAND - The father of an 18-year-old Ohio girl who was murdered by Michael Madison leapt airborne across a table at him after Madison was sentenced to die Thursday.

His daughter, Shirellda Terry, was the third victim of Madison, who killed her and two other women and wrapped their bodies in garbage bags.

After a Cleveland judge sentenced Madison, who was convicted of a triple homicide last month, that's when Van Terry charged him. Authorities grabbed and pushed Terry back, preventing him from getting at Madison.

Madison appeared in court Thursday afternoon to hear the decision. Last month, he was found guilty on 14 counts, including aggravated murder, kidnapping, rape and abuse of a corpse.

Madison’s attorneys stated in closing arguments of the trial that his life should be spared due to lasting psychological damage caused by an abusive childhood.

After he was found guilty, a jury of his peers recommended Madison receive the death penalty for his crimes.

Terry was a teen who loved books, her family said July 23, 2013, shortly after it found out she was dead. She was very religious and found great joy in both Bible study and praise dancing.