Spencer family's emotions set tone at sentencing

By Natasha Kaye Johnson
Diné Bureau

Brooke Spencer

ALBUQUERQUE — An array of senior portrait images of the late Brooke Linelle Spencer laid against an easel in federal court Tuesday morning.

Playing basketball for Gallup High School was a dream for Brooke that she fulfilled. But the rest of her dreams came to an end June 7, 2006, after she was stabbed by her ex-boyfriend Philip Notah.

The sentencing hearing of Notah was filled to capacity, with family members and friends squeezed into the benches on both sides of the courtroom. Many of Spencer's friends and family, as well as some of Notah's family, remained standing outside for the nearly two hour sentencing hearing.

The courtroom remained silent on both sides, as people in attendance waited for presiding U.S. District Court Judge Bruce Black to appear. At the start of hearing, the Court sat hushed, but the silence turned into sobs, and cries as family members and a former coach spoke about Brooke's life and the impact of her death.

Patrick Volpert, a former softball coach for Brooke, was the first to address the Court on behalf of the family, talking about Brooke's accomplishments as an athlete and distinguished individual. He talked of Spencer's contributions to the Albuquerque Heat softball team, recalling specific times when Brooke stepped up as a leader for the team. Because of Brooke, Volpert said, the team became champions both on and off the field.

Irvin J. Patterson, Brooke's maternal uncle, spoke next. "None of us can imagine the fear and pain she felt when Phil approached her with a knife," he said between sobs. "She faced fear and pain, and so should her killer."

Patterson outlined the emotional pain the family has had to endure, stating that Notah does no deserve leniency for his "jealous, hateful act."

"The most difficult thing is that it was senseless and preventable," said Patterson.

Mother speaks
Emotions ran strongest when LeAnn Eskeets Spencer, Brooke's mother, addressed the Court, where she also addressed Notah.

At the start of her address, Spencer read a scripture in from the Bible, and then told Notah, " ... I forgive you."

"It doesn't mean it's okay, and it doesn't mean it's alright," said Spencer. "You still need to pay for what you did."

In vivid detail, Spencer recalled the evening when Brooke was stabbed.

"You both were standing at the front door ... " said an emotional Spencer, addressing Notah.

In a high tone voice, between cracks, Spencer then depicted Brooke falling from the front door, saying she was stabbed. Spencer recalled how she frantically dialed 911, how she panicked when she couldn't find her keys, her brother and young cousins looked as they watched Brooke lying on the floor.

Notah, who had wept earlier, broke down in tears again.

Spencer recalled bringing her daughter to the to RMCH, where emergency personnel met her at the entrance with a wheelchair.

"If I knew that would be the last time I would see her conscious, I would have said something to her," she said.

Brooke was flown to a Phoenix hospital after it was determined by medical personnel that her condition was life threatening.

"I kissed her and I told her she was going to be okay," said Spencer.

When Spencer and Bennie Spencer Jr., Brooke's father, arrived in Phoenix, they said they expected her to recover; but instead were told she was brain dead, and she was taken off life support soon after. Spencer had suffered a stab wound to the aorta, a collapsed lung, and her heart stopped during surgery.

"This all happened, Philip, when you were driving home," said LeAnn Spencer. "I don't understand how you could do something like this."

"Philip, you had no reason to end my daughter's life. How could you do this to Brooke? She fed you; she drove you to school; she cared about you," said Spencer. "I trusted you with my daughter. I trusted you with Brooke."

Spencer then pleaded that Notah get a maximum sentence.

Father's response
Spencer's father was at a loss for words when he first addressed the court, clearing his throat several times before talking. He slowly began to talk about Brooke's qualities as a daughter, his plans to get her a car, and the range of emotions he felt he first learned that she was stabbed.

Spencer said when he talked to his daughter, he said he "got after her," telling her to fight, and that she was going to be okay. When Spencer was told by doctors there was nothing more they could do for Brooke, he remembered how he pleaded with them, asking them to do something more.

"From that moment on, to this day, the world turned upside down," said Spencer. "She was so beautiful."

"She had blood all over her T-shirt," recalled Spencer, on the verge of crying. "Who's going to take care of me when I get old?!"

Addressing the Court, Spencer said when he sees couples together, holding hands and treating each other kindly, he can't help but think of his daughter.

"It just makes you think," he said. "That's how he should have treated her. Why didn't he treat Brooke like that?"

"Why couldn't you have just walked away Philip?" asked Bennie Spencer, turning his head toward Notah. "It was evil what you did to my daughter."

'Terrible tragedy'
Flo Barton, aunt of Notah, addressed the court following Spencer. She began by stating that what happened was a "terrible, terrible tragedy."

"We know Brooke's family is hurting really, really badly," said Barton. "We are hurting for Philip, but also for Brooke."

"Brooke was accepted as a member of our family for four years, and we loved her too," said Barton. "I still see her as the young woman who stole Phil's heart."

Barton said the families had been friends for years, bowling together and attending one another's family functions.

Asking for leniency
Notah's mother, Ramone Notah, sobbing, slowly made her way to the front of the courtroom. As she addressed the court, she sobbed loudly and continually cried.

"First, I would like to express sympathy to LeAnn and your whole family," she wept. "I would have liked to have told you this sooner, but the time was not right."

Notah recalled happier times that her son and Brooke shared, like how they were the first to arrive after the birth of Philip's little sister, and how they made her smile.

"We have lost two young and very loved people in our lives," said Notah. "My son, though he is among us, he is not with us."

"I believe deep down in my heart that what he did was not because of hatred, but because he was confused," cried Notah. "He loved Brooke very much."

Notah pleaded with the judge, asking for mercy for her son.

"Philip is remorseful," said defense attorney Todd Hotchkiss, after presenting a psychiatric evaluation stating that Notah was a good candidate for rehabilitation. "On half a dozen occasions, we cried out at Sandoval Detention Center. This has been an overwhelmingly sad case."

"Fourteen years is just punishment for Philip's crime," said Hotchkiss.

Notah, wearing an orange jumpsuit, with shackles on his feet and hands, then faced the Courtroom where he addressed Brooke's mother.

"LeAnn, I'm sorry for what I've done to your family," he said. "I know these are just words, and they don't make it easier. I want you to know that I appreciate your forgiveness, even though it wasn't easy for you."

"I think about her every day like you guys," he said. "I never thought I could do anything like this."

Crying, Notah talked to his mother and grandmother, apologizing for not being there for them, and then addressed the judge.

"I'm sorry I have to be here in front of you today. I'm sorry, and I will be sorry every day from now on," he said.

"I wish I had evidence of premeditation," said U.S. Attorney Miles Hanisee, following the defense's request for leniency.

Judge calls for families to heal
"This is an overwhelmingly sad case," said Black, addressing the court, before giving the sentence. "(Brooke) had so much pride and respect from what was said here."

"The justice system cannot bring her back," he said. "I frequently sit in this position and wish I had that power."

"What I can do here is limited, but what the family can do has much more potential," said Black.

Black advised the family to come together, and find closure.