Rochester man sentenced for fatal beating of girlfriend - 13WHAM-TV

Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) — Walter Balkum Jr. was sentenced Tuesday to 17 years to life in prison for the beating death of his girlfriend last summer. Prosecutors said Balkum, now 50, beat Melikah Bruner, 43, to death Aug. 27 inside a home on Hazelwood Terrace in front of Bruner's daughter. Police previously responded to Bruner's home June 2, when Balkum allegedly assaulted her and her adult son. Balkum was charged with two counts of assault for that incident and was placed on electronic monitoring, along with orders of protection. He was released from electronic monitoring Aug. 22, five days before Bruner's death. BACKGROUND: Man convicted of manslaughter for girlfriend's beating death | Son faces mother's accused killer in court, angered by electronic monitoring decision | Questions arise after felon taken off electronic monitoring days before fatal beating | 'You're an animal': Family demands justice at Hazelwood Terrace suspect's arraignment In April, a jury found Balkum guilty of first-degree manslaughter, aggravated criminal contempt and two counts of second-degree assault. Bruner's children were among those in attendance for Balkum's sentencing. "You're just nothing to me," said Olajuwan McLamore, Bruner's son. "You nothing to me. You deserve everything you've got and more." Bruner's 10-year-old daughter, Goldynne Harris, faced her mother's killer and delivered a powerful victim impact statement. "It hurts just to be in here for this reason," Harris said. "I shouldn't even have to see a courtroom. I shouldn't even have to be all dressed up like this, coming into this type of place because my mom passed away." Before Judge Alex Renzi imposed the sentence, Balkum apologized to the family for the loss but did not take responsibility for her death. Renzi took Balkum's lengthy criminal history into consideration prior to sentencing. "It seems like (Balkum) doesn't care," Harris said. "You say that you love her, but then if you loved her, you wouldn't have did this." Balkum was sentenced to 17 years to life for manslaughter, 17 years to life for aggravated criminal contempt, and 15 years to life for assault, all to be served concurrently. "You're not sorry for nothing, because if you were sorry for it, it would have never happened," McLamore added. "It would have never happened, but we got justice for the situation itself." Balkum is also accused of beating another inmate in the Monroe County Jail in February and pleaded not guilty to a felony assault charge in March. BACKGROUND: Convicted felon faces new charge after alleged inmate beating Neither attorney commented after Tuesday's sentencing. If you are in crisis or know someone who is, there are many resources that can help: Willow Domestic Violence Center of Greater Rochester: (585) 222-7233 National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233 _____