Wednesday night, a jury sentenced a Little Rock man to 25 years in prison for killing a 14-year-old boy.
The twelve men and women convicted Michael Sadler of second degree murder after a quick one day trial.
Wednesday night, Sadler told FOX16 he was sorry for killing Michael Stanley.
“I hope they find comfort somewhere. I lost a son, too. And, it wasn’t intentional. I never intended to kill that boy,” said Sadler about the murder.
Unless he is paroled, Sadler will spend 25 years locked up for killing Stanley. Stanley’s family thinks the jury should’ve given Sadler the maximum sentence of 30 years.
“Michael’s not here no more, so I’m his voice,” says Stanley’s mother, Raida Bunche.
In May, Sadler ran Stanley over with his van after the teen stole his wallet. Sadler then beat the teen, but in court Wednesday, the medical examiner said the kicking and punching did not kill the teen, the van did.
“Mr. Sadler didn’t have any business approaching him anyway. Had he not approached him, we wouldn’t be here today,” says Bunche.
For Stanley’s mother, no sentence is long enough.
“I have no words for him. He took away my life. I’m not who I was, nor are my kids. So, my life will never be the same,” she says.
Thursday, she will go to her son’s grave with her sister to watch his tombstone get installed.
“This is what we have to do for the rest of our life. Michael Sadler received 25 years, my nephew will never see 25 years,” says Stanley’s aunt.
Prosecutors were looking for a first degree murder conviction. The defense said Sadler was guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.
The jury chose second degree murder.
Prosecutors went through several witnesses at the one day trial, but the defense didn’t have any.
