Kimani Washington, who participated in drug robbery that led to Mattapan massacre, is sentenced to 16-18 years

By Maria Cramer, Globe Staff

A man who played a role in the murders of four people in a 2010 drug robbery in Mattapan apologized today to weeping family members of the victims gathered in Suffolk Superior Court before he was sentenced to 16 to 18 years in prison.

Four people were killed in the shootings in September 2010 on Woolson Street in Mattapan, including a 2-year-old child in his mother’s arms. A fifth person, a young man, was shot in the head and paralyzed.

Suffolk Superior Court Judge Christine McEvoy accepted Washington’s pleas to charges of robbery, carjacking, home invasion, and possession with intent to distribute drugs. Washington has said that he participated in the robbery but left before the murders.

Washington testified against two other men accused in the massacre. He was a key witness for Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s office during the trials of Edward Washington, Kimani’s cousin, and Dwayne Moore.

Edward Washington was acquitted, but Moore was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder at his second trial last fall and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. His trial will automatically be reviewed by the Supreme Judicial Court.

Judge McEvoy said she would accept the sentence proposed by both the prosecution and Kimani Washington’s defense lawyers under a plea agreement, even though she could have imposed a tougher sentence. She said that Washington had given “critical” information to the prosecution.

Angela Davis, aunt of victim Eyanna Flonory, reacts (Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe)

McEvoy said she would also give Washington credit for time he has already served in jail, awaiting resolution of his case.

Killed during the robbery were drug dealer Simba Martin, 21; his girlfriend, Eyanna Flonory; her 2-year-old son, Amanihotep Smith; and Levaughn Washum-Garrison, ­Martin’s friend who slept on a couch at Martin’s Sutton Street house that night.

Marcus Hurd, the fifth victim, was shot in the head, survived and testified against both men.

Kimani Washington testified at both trials in Suffolk Superior Court that he helped commit the armed robbery in Martin’s Sutton Street home, but left the area before the adult victims were ordered to strip naked and then marched around the corner where they were shot to death.

Kimani Washington agreed to testify against both men in return for a reduced sentence.