Emotional Day As Suspects Sentenced For Lake Brantley Student's Murder
Wednesday, May 28, 2008 – updated: 1:48 pm EDT May 28, 2008
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. -- A senseless murder that rocked Lake Brantley High School lead to an emotional day in court Wednesday. For the first time, the family of the murdered Lake Brantley student faced his killers in court.
RAW VIDEOS: Suspects Talk | Judge Talks | Family's Statement
READ: Statement From Murder Victim's Family (PDF)
Brian Harvey, 19, and Stephen Johnson, 23, spoke directly to the family of Mitchell Wiener (see raw video) before they were sentenced to life behind bars. For the first time, the public also heard from the family of Mitchell Wiener and a bizarre statement from one of the defendants after a very emotional morning in court."Never again will we hear his laugh or feel the warmth of his giant bear hug," said family friend Douglas Berghorn, reading from a statement written by the father of Mitchell Wiener (see raw video).The loss of the 17-year-old Lake Brantley football player was still too difficult to comprehend as Mitchell's brother Joe sobbed in court."Now, the potential of what Mitchell could have become is lost forever. We will miss him for the rest of our days," Berghorn read.Harvey was convicted of setting up the $800 robbery during a botched drug deal that lead to the murder."I'm sorry to Mitch's family, for Mitch losing his life. I also lost a good friend in this. I feel that every day," Harvey said.Johnson was convicted earlier this month of firing the fatal shot. He's never spoken in court, but Wednesday made an unusual statement."Just because you give me life don't mean I have to do life. I'm going to get up out of this one way or another," he said.Judge Debra Nelson sentenced both men to life without the possibility of parole (see raw video)."Somebody is dead for $800. It is the price you put on a life that is baffling this court to no end," Judge Nelson said.Both Harvey and Johnson's attorneys plan to appeal Wednesday's sentence.
Brian Harvey, 19, and Stephen Johnson, 23, spoke directly to the family of Mitchell Wiener (see raw video) before they were sentenced to life behind bars. For the first time, the public also heard from the family of Mitchell Wiener and a bizarre statement from one of the defendants after a very emotional morning in court."Never again will we hear his laugh or feel the warmth of his giant bear hug," said family friend Douglas Berghorn, reading from a statement written by the father of Mitchell Wiener (see raw video).The loss of the 17-year-old Lake Brantley football player was still too difficult to comprehend as Mitchell's brother Joe sobbed in court."Now, the potential of what Mitchell could have become is lost forever. We will miss him for the rest of our days," Berghorn read.Harvey was convicted of setting up the $800 robbery during a botched drug deal that lead to the murder."I'm sorry to Mitch's family, for Mitch losing his life. I also lost a good friend in this. I feel that every day," Harvey said.Johnson was convicted earlier this month of firing the fatal shot. He's never spoken in court, but Wednesday made an unusual statement."Just because you give me life don't mean I have to do life. I'm going to get up out of this one way or another," he said.Judge Debra Nelson sentenced both men to life without the possibility of parole (see raw video)."Somebody is dead for $800. It is the price you put on a life that is baffling this court to no end," Judge Nelson said.Both Harvey and Johnson's attorneys plan to appeal Wednesday's sentence.
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