The following is a transcript of the victim’s impact statement I gave for the sentencing of the drunk driver who killed my sister, Elizabeth (Liz). This was read at the sentencing on March 27, 2018. I share the following statement because I believe it provides value far beyond just that day.
My name is Jackie. Liz is my sister.
People have choices. Every day. That’s one of the incredible gifts we have as humans. Our lives are the combined product of our many choices.
There are so many choices surrounding this extremely sad, confusing situation.
It started with a terrible choice by you (the defendant) to drink and drive.
Liz’s husband, family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and anyone who knew her are facing choices when it comes to how to deal with the reality of losing an amazing person.
Your (the defendant) family and friends must choose how they will respond to this situation.
We all get to choose:
• Whether we will be resilient or ruined by this.
• Whether we will be victims or will overcome.
• Whether this will define us, destroy us, or strengthen us.
The judges gets to use all the information at his disposal to choose a sentence for you (the defendant).
I think you can all agree that choice is very powerful.
But there is someone who no longer gets to make choices. Someone who has a long track record of making decisions that made her an incredible person who impacted so many. Liz chose to be kind. She chose to smile at everyone. She chose to use her many talents to help others. She chose to enjoy life. She chose to marry her best friend and chose to be committed to her marriage. She chose to be an amazing aunt, daughter, sister, friend, co-worker, and cat mom.
Liz doesn’t get to choose anymore. You (the defendant) ended her ability to choose anything ever again through a selfish choice you made.
Your honor, one of two choices here today is yours to make. We trust you’ll make the best choice.
We believe the best choice is for a maximum sentence because, you see, Liz will never get to make another choice. But the defendant will get to make so many more. He can choose to let this situation change the path his life was on. He gets to choose how to spend the rest of his life. Even if he were to stay in prison for a short 20 years, he will get out with potential for a very long life ahead of him – full of the opportunities to make choices.
For this, you (the defendant) should be grateful.
Liz’s ability to choose ended on June 24th, at 37 years old.
The second choice that we are facing today is a choice not just for the judge, but for all of us. It is the choice as to what we will do with this experience. My hope is that we all choose to live our lives a little more like Liz lived hers – with honesty, kindness, compassion, love, and making a positive impact on the world.
Choice is a powerful and incredible. And we all have it. Let’s not forget how fortunate we are to be able to have the ability to always strive to make the very best choices.