The sister of NBA superstar Kawhi Leonard, Kimesha Williams, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being found guilty of murder. Williams, 39, and her friend Candace Townsell, 42, were convicted of multiple charges relating to the murder of 84-year-old Afaf Anis Assad at the Pechanga Resort Casino on August 31, 2019.
As per the District Attorney’s Office, during the early hours of August 31, 2019, Williams and Townsell were wandering around the casino, stealing a woman’s mobile phone and searching for other opportunities. The prosecution’s trial brief revealed that both women have a long history of theft crimes in Riverside County.
Prosecutors stated that the defendants were getting ready to leave just before 7:30 a.m. As they arrived at the front exit, they noticed Assad enter with her 92-year-old husband. Her husband proceeded towards a gaming room, while Assad walked into a ladies’ restroom. Both Williams and her accomplice viciously attacked the elderly woman in the bathroom of the casino, stole her purse that contained $1000, and left their victim unconscious with a fractured skull. Assad eventually died from her injuries a few days later. The perpetrators fled the scene but were arrested the following month and held without bail.
Williams, who has previous convictions that include attempted robbery and grand theft, released a statement via her attorney after her sentence was passed, insisting she was not responsible for the murder. The statement read, “I am so sorry for your loss. I have been praying for you and your family every day. I am not responsible for the death of Mrs. Assad. Although the courts have found me guilty of the charges, we all know the truth, and that there is one judge, and that is God, and that He knows the truth.”
The murder case of Williams, sister of the NBA’s two-time Finals MVP and current LA Clippers player, Kawhi Leonard, has garnered significant attention, both from the public and the media. Leonard, who is considered one of the best players in the NBA, has not yet commented on the case and has chosen to keep his personal life private.
During his high school years, Kawhi Leonard worked long shifts at his family’s hand car wash alongside his father, often lasting up to 10 hours. The job provided an opportunity for the father and son to spend quality time with each other, in addition to their shared love for the game of basketball.
However, one of Leonard’s most painful memories is tied to that very same car wash. In January of 2008, his father, Mark Leonard, was fatally shot while working there in Compton, California. ESPN reported that Mark was hoping to finish his work early so he could attend his son’s game that evening. Unfortunately, he never made it, and the perpetrator of the crime has yet to be caught.
Understandably, Leonard’s life spiraled out of control after his father’s tragic death when he was just 16 years old. Nevertheless, he still played for his Riverside King team the following day, scoring 17 points in a 68-60 defeat against Compton Dominguez. According to the LA Times, Leonard fell into his mother’s arms and wept after the game, having learned about his father’s passing only 24 hours prior.
Some believe Leonard is not playing the Clippers vs. Suns series due to the recent news of his sisters conviction.
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