35-years in prison for Chew murder

NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH) -- A man was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the murder of Matthew Chew in New London in the fall of 2010.

Idris Elahi was convicted of stabbing Chew to death while Chew walked from his job on Huntington Street to his apartment on Washington Street on October 29, 2010.

Chew's mother, Marilyn Chew, told the courtroom her world was turned upside down at the hands of Elahi. Now 19, he and five other teens set out to stalk and jump someone that night simply because they were bored.

"I miss his sense of humor," she said about her son. "I miss his caring for his family and friends. I miss that boy, who was my baby."

Chew lost her youngest son to an act of senseless violence. Matthew, 25, had just left work at Two Wives Pizza when he came upon six teens who asked him for a light. That's when he was attacked. Among his last words, "Why?"

"I just don't understand the minds of those that would go out at night and stalking and hunting for someone to beat up and injure," his mother said.

Elahi pleaded guilty under the Alford Doctrine, which means he does not admit to the crime but believes the state has enough evidence to convict him. He did not speak at his sentencing. His parents offered condolences and hope.

"And again not to give up on the good of man," said his father, Muneer Elahi.

His mother, Damita Elahi said, "I love you Idris and I'm always going to be here for you."

The Chews don't believe 35 years is enough, and they say they didn't expect an apology from Elahi.

"If we were to project our thought patterns on him, absolutely I would have expected some remorse, but his thought patterns are different than ours," said Richard Chew, Matthew's father.

Following the sentencing, Chew family went to Two Wives Pizza to be among friends.