Murderer of Goshen man sentenced to 65 years

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Hawley

February 22, 2012

By SCOTT WEISSER THE GOSHEN NEWS The Goshen News Wed Feb 22, 2012, 10:16 AM EST

GOSHEN — The man accused of killing a Goshen business owner last fall was sentenced to 65 years in prison during an Elkhart Circuit Court Hearing this morning at the Elkhart County Jail.

John T. Hawley, 54, murdered Kiran C. “Ken” Patel last October at the former Goshen Inn and Conference Center, which was owned by Patel. Police say Hawley had been employed by Patel.

Officers responded to a call for a welfare check at the former Conference Center along Lincolnway East. There they found Patel unconscious and not breathing. He was later pronounced dead.

Elkhart County Coroner John White ruled the death a homicide and said the cause was multiple blunt force trauma to the head.

Hawley was later taken into custody in Kokomo. According to prosecutors, Hawley killed Patel during the course of a robbery.

Shiv Patel, 19, the slain Patel’s son, read a statement from the family during the sentencing. “You do not deserve to breathe the air in this room,” he said to Hawley at one point. “...God will punish you.”

Read continuing coverage on our website, www.goshennews.com, and also read Thursday’s Goshen News for a complete account of Wednesday’s hearing.

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