Woman's guilty plea in golf course slaying gives hope to victim's mother

SALT LAKE CITY — Elka Fernandez, whose son was shot to death assassination-style, had tears in her eyes but hopeful words for one of the four people accused of killing her son.

JoJo Brandstatt, 18, was killed on a West Valley golf course last year. Shardise Malaga, 20, pleaded guilty Thursday to reduced charges in return for cooperating with prosecutors.

The hearing before 3rd District Judge William Barrett was brisk and business-like, but Fernandez said what Malaga did brought her some comfort.

"It's bringing me some relief — she's taken responsibility for what happened," Fernandez said outside the courtroom. "I know people say she's taking a deal and all that, but I really feel in my heart that she's remorseful. She's the only one who has shown any remorse."

Fernandez said she is torn between anger and feelings of pain over her son's senseless death.

"This really helps a lot," she said of Malaga's guilty plea. "It takes away some of the anger. Maybe someday Shardise will change and can help people."

In particular, Fernandez said she would like to see Malaga someday get involved in steering other young people away from gangs.

Malaga originally was charged with murder, two counts of aggravated kidnapping and five counts of aggravated robbery, all first-degree felonies.

Malaga instead pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a second-degree felony; and two counts of aggravated kidnapping, a first-degree felony. She also pleaded guilty to amended charges in an unrelated crime: burglary and theft, both second-degree felonies. She will be sentenced March 22.

The other defendants are Antonie Hunter Farani, 15, Jeremiah H. Williamson, 27, and Spencer Isaiah Cater, 19. Farani has been certified to stand trial as an adult, but he cannot face the death penalty because he was 14 at the time he allegedly shot Brandstatt. Williamson and Cater are both charged with murder, a first-degree felony.

The three males also are facing two aggravated kidnapping charges and five aggravated robbery charges, all first-degree felonies.

e-mail: lindat@desnews.com