‘I wanted to see his face’

Bus shooting victim’s family grieves as suspect hides from them in court

 More than 18 months after a teenager was murdered aboard an MBTA bus in Dorchester, his alleged killer was led into a tense courtroom Thursday.

Jonathan Sanders, 19, accused of the mid-day murder of 18-year-old Dwayne Graham on the No. 23 bus on March 30, 2007, draped a black shirt over his head as families of both men looked on. He was held on $750,000 bail for the alleged crime.

The victim’s mother, Dorese Graham, both cried and stared down Saunders.

“I wanted to see who killed my son,” Graham said. “I wanted to see his face.”

When asked what she saw in Sanders, Graham said, “He doesn’t have any remorse.”

Assistant District Attorney Mark Hallal said Dwayne Graham was on the bus when another group began pounding its side and calling out Graham.

When the bus stopped, the groups began to argue, Hallal said. In the fray, Sanders — who is set to serve 18 months on an unrelated parole violation — allegedly fired one gunshot through the window and into Graham’s head.

Defense attorney Peter Marano said Sanders was “not present at the scene” and never interviewed by investigators.

“I don’t think it’s possible that he did that,” said Teresa Mitchell, the defendant’s cousin.

The families traded barbs during the proceedings, but Dorese Graham said Sanders’ family cannot know her pain.

“He’s living,” she said of Sanders. “I’ve got to go to a grave site to see my son.”