A Bronx family, community members and domestic violence advocates gathered for a vigil in Washington Heights on Monday to honor 27-year-old Lovay Williams, as her alleged killer, 41-year-old Tiliek Thompson, sat behind bars.<\/p>\n
\u201cJustice will be served because I don\u2019t care what [Thompson is] saying in there to have protective custody, but you can\u2019t hide from God!\u201d said one family member.<\/p>\n
According to the criminal complaint, Thompson and Williams had been dating for a year, when he beat and strangled her to death inside her Manhattan apartment.<\/p>\n
Investigators said the victim\u2019s 7-year-old daughter was in the apartment at the time of the killing. They say she opened the door for officers responding to a wellness check on Sept. 6 and discovered the victim\u2019s body<\/a> on a couch.<\/p>\n The Manhattan District Attorney\u2019s Office said the injuries were so severe that the victim\u2019s right eye was swollen shut.<\/p>\n Thompson was arraigned on Sunday and pleaded not guilty.<\/p>\n \u201cThat man deserves every and anything that he gets inside of [jail],\u201d said the grieving family member. \u201cAnd I\u2019m going to say that. I\u2019m going to say that from the pit of my soul.\u201d<\/p>\n