The judge who sentenced Theodore Wafer to at least 17 years in prison for the death of Renisha McBride told him she's certain he is remorseful and regrets his actions. If he wasn't going to prison, Wayne County, Mi., Judge Dana Hathaway said she's confident the 55-year-old Wafer would never commit another crime during his life, reports the Detroit Free Press. None of that excuses what happened in the case, she said. Wafer shot McBride on the porch of his home Nov. 2.
“This is one of the saddest cases I have ever had,” Hathaway said. “A young woman's life is gone and an otherwise law-abiding citizen's life is ruined.” A jury rejected the claim that Wafer shot in self-defense. Wafer apologized to McBride's family and friends. “I only wish that I could take this horrible tragedy back,” he said. Wafer's lawyer, Cheryl Carpenter, said the case will be appealed. She asked Hathaway to sentence Wafer within the manslaughter guidelines and said her client took responsibility and deserves a chance to get out of prison one day. “This wasn't planned,” she said. “He didn't go out looking for this. It came to him.”