JONESBORO, Ga. — Former Atlanta Hawks basketball star Mookie Blaylock has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to causing a crash that killed a mother of five.
Channel 2's Tom Jones was in the courtroom as Blaylock told the victim's husband the crash will be with him for the rest of his life and then he apologized.
"Well he should have, he should have apologized. I think I deserve that and more," said Frankie Murphy.
Murphy says apologizing was the least Blaylock could do after he caused a crash that killed his wife, Monica Murphy.
"I'm glad on some level that he at least admitted he was guilty. I don't think he had a choice, though," Murphy said.
Prosecutors say Blaylock was behind the wheel last May on Tara Boulevard when he crossed the median and slammed into the Murphys, killing the mother of five and injuring Frankie Murphy.
Prosecutor Deah Warren says five weeks before that, Blaylock was going through alcohol withdrawal, suffered seizures and was told not to drive.
"He went to Northside Hospital and was told by a doctor there that he was not safe and not clear to operate a vehicle and instead he chose to do so," Warren said.
Blaylock pleaded guilty and received a 15-year sentence where he would serve three behind bars.
He must remain sober and not drive when he gets out on parole.
Murphy says the sentence won't bring his beloved wife back.
"There's a bunch of people in this world that are worse off without her, me included," Murphy said.
Blaylock must complete 1,500 hours of community service where he must talk to kids about the dangers of drinking and driving.
Murphy told Jones that he wanted Blaylock to spend more time in jail.
WSBTV
