MAYS LANDING – A Philadelphia woman was sentenced to 80 years in prison for the murders of a Canadian mother and daughter, who were fatally stabbed in Atlantic City last spring, Acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced today.
On Thursday, Oct. 24, Antoinette Pelzer, 46, of West Huntington Park, Philadelphia, was sentenced to 80 years in New Jersey state prison for the murders of Po Lin Wan, 80, and Wan’s daughter, Alice Mei See Leung, 47, both of Scarborough, Ontario.
On the morning of May 21, 2012, while on a trip to Atlantic City, the victims were walking down the 1900 block of Pacific Avenue when they were approached by Pelzer. Pelzer attempted to rob the women at knifepoint, and then stabbed both women multiple times with a 13-inch butcher knife. Ms. Leung suffered stab wounds to her upper body. Ms. Wan was stabbed in the lower body, hand and shoulder while trying to protect her daughter.
An Atlantic City Police Officer on routine patrol happened upon the in-progress attack, ordered Pelzer to drop her weapon, took Pelzer into custody, and called for emergency medical assistance. The victims were transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, where they later succumbed to their injuries.
On Aug. 30, 2013, Pelzer pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder.
Today at sentencing, the defendant apologized to the victim’s family and stated to the Court that she was suffering from mental illness at the time she committed the murders.
The State, represented by Assistant Prosecutor Seth Levy, stated that defendant’s mental illness did not constitute a valid reason, under the circumstances to give a lesser sentence than the maximum allowed under the law.
“The defendant was evaluated two times by psychiatrists and both times, she was found competent to stand trial and legally sane at the time of the murders.” Levy stated. “This murder was a conscious, vicious act. When the defendant got up in the morning she stuffed scissors in her purse, a nail file in her sock, grabbed a 13-inch butcher knife and went out on the streets of Atlantic City. This defendant knew what she was doing.”
Members of the victim’s family from Hong Kong also addressed the Court expressing the lasting impact the murders had on their lives and stating that these violent crimes and senseless murders warrant the maximum sentence allowed.
Superior Court Judge Mark Sandson sentenced Pelzer to two consecutive 40-year sentences, totaling 80 years, of which Pelzer must serve 68 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Statement to the media from the family of Po Lin Wan & Alice Mei See Leung:
On behalf of the entire family, we would like to thank the Honorable Judge Mark Sandson, Mr. James McClain, Ms. Jacqueline Simonson, and Mr. Seth Levy of the ACPO, our family, friends, the international community at large and many others who have extended their support. We appreciate everyone’s compassion and understanding.
Today is the last day we have to face the public trial of the tragic loss of our two closest and dearest family members. We are grateful that the case is over. We ask that the media respect the privacy of the family at this time, and allow us to grieve in private and carry on with a normal life, and Mother and Alice lie in their eternal peace.
The family of Po Lin Wan & Alice Mei See Leung issued the following Statement:
On behalf of the entire family, we would like to thank the Honorable Judge Mark Sandson, Mr. James McClain, Ms. Jacqueline Simonson, and Mr. Seth Levy of the ACPO, our family, friends, the international community at large and many others who have extended their support. We appreciate everyone’s compassion and understanding.
Today is the last day we have to face the public trial of the tragic loss of our two closest and dearest family members. We are grateful that the case is over. We ask that the media respect the privacy of the family at this time, and allow us to grieve in private and carry on with a normal life, and Mother and Alice lie in their eternal peace.
Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor’s Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) or visit the Crime Stoppers Website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.
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