N.H. Teen Gets Life Sentence For Machete Attack

NASHUA, N.H. — A New Hampshire teenager convicted of killing a mother and maiming her daughter with a machete has been sentenced to life in prison.

As required by law, the judge imposed the sentence Tuesday on 19-year-old Steven Spader after a jury found him guilty of all six charges he faced, including first-degree murder.

Spader was the first person to go on trial in the October 2009 attacks that left Kimberly Cates dead and her 11-year-old daughter, Jaimie, gravely wounded.

He showed no reaction as the verdicts were handed down.

During the two-week trial, defense attorney Jonathan Cohen assailed the credibility of three co-defendants who brokered plea deals and testified against Spader.

The husband and father of the victims — David Cates — told the court that Jaime has endured many hours of surgery, and has many more to go.

"I am certain that the physicians will be able to diminish the many physical scars she will carry with her forever. However, the emotional scarring Jaime has endured is immeasurable and unknown at this point."