041374 Child-Killer sentenced

JACKSONVILLE If I a UPI) - A judge who said he is not -easily shocked or affected by tragedy or cruelty" Friday sentenced a man to death for killing two of his children and torturing two others.

Judge Hudson Olliff added 46 years in prison on top of the death sentence handed Ernest John Dobbert, who was convicted two weeks ago.

The jury recommended a term of life in prison. which Olliff ignored on grounds that the crimes met the criteria for acts which are -especially heinous. atrocious and cruel."

The judge. who said he had seen comrades blown up while. a paratrooper in World War It. asked, "If this crime is not, what is?"' 

"I am not easily shocked or affected by tragedy or cruelty he continued. "but this murder of a helpless. defenseless and innocent child is, the most cruel. atrocious and heinous crime I have ever personally known of and it is, certainly deserving of the sentence of death."

Dobbert heard the sentence as he had heard the guilty verdict, without comment or emotion.

fie was convicted of the first degree murder in the beating death of his daughter. Kellev, 9. and second degree murder for the beating death of his 7-year-old son. Ryder Scott.

He was also found guiltY of one charge of child torture for his treatment of son Ernest John Dobbert III., 13, and a charge of child abuse in connection with his treatment of daughter Honore, 7.