2 Sentenced to Death for Murders in Church : Courts: Albert Lewis and his half brother, Anthony Oliver, were found guilty of 1989 shotgun slaying of two women in South-Central L.A. One victim’s widower says justice is served.

Two men were sentenced to death Friday for their role in the 1989 shotgun murders of two worshipers inside a South-Central Los Angeles church.

Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Connor, following recommendations of a jury, handed down the sentences to Albert Lewis, 37, and his half brother, Anthony Oliver, 31. They were arrested several days after the shooting, which occurred at a July 21 Friday night service at Mt. Olive Church of God in Christ.

Killed were Patronella Luke, 35, a cousin of Lewis’ then-estranged wife, and Eddie-Mae Lee, a 76-year-old family friend. Luke’s husband, Peter, was gravely wounded.

“That death is warranted is overwhelming and supported by the credibility of the evidence,” Connor said as Oliver stared at her expressionless and Lewis looked down at the defense table.

The most damaging evidence was a shotgun that police learned Oliver and Lewis had bought shortly before the shooting. It was the same weapon that killed the women and wounded Luke.

The widower, who was at the sentencing Friday, told reporters he was satisfied that justice had been served.

“I have to accept that, even though my son will never have a mother . . . and I’ll never have the use of my left leg again.”

Even one of Lewis’ lawyers, Richard Leonard, did not quarrel with the outcome.

“If you believe in the death penalty, this case warrants” it, he said. “If you go inside a church and shoot innocent people in prayer, you should be sentenced to death.”

Leonard disclosed that Lewis had attempted suicide the day before the sentencing. It was the fourth such attempt since he has been in custody.

During the trial, Oliver and Lewis got into a fistfight with their lawyers. Not long after that, Lewis was stabbed 40 times by another inmate at the Men’s Central Jail.

The prosecution contended that the half brothers donned dark clothing and ski masks and went to the church looking for Lewis’ wife.

She had left him a few days earlier when she found out he was legally married to someone else, she testified. But she was in hiding in Las Vegas with her mother because Lewis had terrorized her and her family, she told the jury.

While Lewis acted as a lookout outside the church, Oliver stalked the aisles looking for his half brother’s wife, Deputy Dist. Atty. Marcia Clark contended.

When he got to the pew where Lee and the Lukes were sitting, he opened fire, Clark said.

She portrayed Lewis as the mastermind of the crime.

In earlier court appearances, Leonard had speculated that Connor would not sentence his client to death because Lewis was never accused of being the triggerman.