A Homewood man ordered to serve the rest of his life in prison on Monday said he will appeal.
“I didn’t get a fair trial,” Preslin Turner told the judge during his sentencing hearing. “The system failed.”
A jury in March found Turner guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Therreus Lindsey, 27, and the attempted homicide of Lindsey’s identical twin brother, Darius Lindsey, at their home on Mt. Vernon Street in Homewood on March 7, 2025.
On Monday, Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Simquita Bridges ordered Turner to serve the mandatory penalty of life without parole, to be followed by seven to 14 years in prison.
During Turner’s trial, he told the jury that the twins attacked him that night, with one swinging a frying pan at him. Turner testified that the brothers put him in a choke hold, punched him, and that at one point, he felt his body going limp.
When Turner’s father, who lived upstairs, began yelling at the twins, Turner told the jury, he was able to escape from the chokehold. He grabbed his gun — which he was licensed to carry — and said he fired at Darius Lindsey. Then, he claimed Therreus Lindsey ran into a bedroom and returned carrying something.
Turner shot him twice.
Prosecutors urged the jury to find Turner guilty of first-degree murder, reminding them that both victims were shot in the back, and that after Therreus Lindsey was wounded on the floor, Turner shot him a second time.
On Monday, Turner’s defense attorney, Aaron Sontz, told the court he didn’t understand the verdict.
“This verdict, genuinely, baffled me,” Sontz said. “This case, the verdict, is not supported by the weight of the evidence.”
Addressing the court, Turner said he had always helped the Lindseys and their mom, but that night they attacked him.
“They put me in the situation,” he said. “This wasn’t pre-meditated…I was jumped.”
First-degree murder is an intentional, premeditated killing.
Turner’s mother, Charlene Turner, told the court that their family is remorseful for Therreus Lindsey’s death.
Still, she said her son had no criminal record and always acted responsibly.
“He would never harm or kill anyone unless his life was in jeopardy,” she said. “He was attacked by two people.
“I felt he had no choice.”
‘There is no understanding’
Dionne Staples, the victims’ mother told the court her four grandchildren are now being raised without a father.
Her 1-year-old grandson, she said, walks around with a picture of Therreus Lindsey and holds it up to his ear talking to it, saying, “‘Hello, dad. Hello, dad.’”
Staples, who testified at trial, said watching her two sons get shot that night replays constantly in her head.
“I don’t sleep at night,” she said. “I’m talking and yelling for my son to get up, who was executed right before my eyes.”
With Darius, Staples said looking at him is a reminder of her son who was killed.
“He will never be the same,” she said. “All I need to understand is why my son’s not here anymore, and there is no understanding.”
Floretta Adams, the twins’ cousin, said they all grew up together and remained close. She called them “T” and “D.”
“We miss his smile, his laugh, his funny jokes.”