FARGO (KFGO) - A judge has sentenced a Fargo man to life in prison without parole for the murders of two men and to setting fire to one of the victims' apartments.
Ashley Hunter stabbed a friend, Clarence Flowers, 77 times in June 2015. Samuel Traut was beaten with a hammer. Hunter's attorney called the killings, "murder in the moment," that were the result of meth-induced rage. Sally Traut, the sister of Samuel Traut, says it's hard to explain when someone asks whether she has any siblings. Samuel was her only brother.
Cass County State's Attorney Birch Burdick argued for the maximum sentence calling the murders, shocking and unusual for this community. Hunter said he wished he could change what took place, but he can't. He offered prayers and condolences to the families of Flowers and Traut.
East-Cental District Judge Norman Anderson said the murders were unprovoked and drugs were no excuse for what hunter did. Hunter was sentenced to two life terms for the murders with the time to be served simultaneously and 10 years for arson. Hunter set fire to Traut's apartment in an attempt to cover up the crime.