SC man gets 43 years for beating death on a dare

FLORENCE, S.C. (AP) — A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to 43 years in prison after admitting he beat a man to death in Timmonsville after a friend dared him to attack the victim.

WPDE-TV reports that Jeremy Durant pleaded guilty to murder Wednesday in the 2009 killing.

Prosecutors say Durant attacked 47-year-old Van Bass with brass knuckles after the friend’s dare, then got a pole from behind a building and kept attacking Bass until he died.

Bass’ family asked the judge for a life sentence, saying Bass was so badly beaten up they had to close his casket at his funeral.

Durant apologized to Bass’ family and asked for forgiveness.

A co-defendant, Randy Baker, is awaiting trial on a murder charge.

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Information from: WPDE-TV, http://www.carolinalive.com/