CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga.,None — A woman who says she was set on fire by her boyfriend tells Channel 2 Action News she's not looking forward to testifying against the man as her trial begins.
Orville Brooks faces a life sentence for allegedly dousing 21-year-old Tara Best with gasoline and setting her on fire at their apartment in Jan. 2011.
Best was burned on more than 70 percent of her body. She told Channel 2's Tom Jones that she thanks God she survived the horrific attack, but she's scarred for life.
"I feel like, most of all, I'm just really angry with how my body turned out to be," she told Jones.
Best was on life support for three months and remained in the hospital a total of eight months. Her mother, Nicole Ramsey, says Best has undergone 14 surgeries and has to have more. Best told Jones she hopes Brooks get the maximum sentence.
"He needs to sit behind bars for life so he can really think about what he (has) done," she said.
"I mean heinous. Set someone on fire alive. How do you do that?"
Ramsey said Brooks was jealous and controlling, and would hit her daughter. Brooks became angry that Best worked late and he attacked her when she came home, Ramsey told Jones.
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"I had talked to my daughter on several occasions. (I) had asked her to please leave this gentleman. Your children have to learn themselves. I hate that she had to learn this way because this is the most painful thing that you could ever do to anybody," she said.
Ramsey was not happy that Brooks turned down a plea deal where he would receive a 50-year sentence with eligibility for parole after 30 years.
"He wants to put his mutilation on TV so we'll show the world what he is," she said. Brooks's trial begins on Tuesday and Best told Jones she is nervous about being in court.
"Just about having to speak in front of him and maybe being twisted up by the defense attorney," she said. She wants her former boyfriend to spend life behind bars but made it clear to Jones she does not hate him for his actions.
"I guess because I'm just a nice person and, I don't know, I just couldn't find it there," she said.
Prosecutors said Brooks actually faces life plus 207 years if convicted on all counts. His attorney declined to comment about the case.