Former UT student Ryan Grady was sentenced Friday to four years in prison and a $10,000 fine for events that led up to the death of UT student Johnny Flobeck on Oct. 5, 2002.
The jury acquitted Grady of murder charges but convicted him of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Grady, 24, was charged with murder and assault for fatally striking Flobeck on the head with The Club, a hooked metal steering wheel lock.
Friday and Saturday were emotional days in the 403rd District Court, as family and friends of both Grady and Flobeck testified in the sentencing portion of the trial, and Flobeck's family exercised their right to address Grady directly from the stand.
Earlier Friday, the attorneys delivered closing arguments, and the jury deliberated for about three hours before giving its verdict.
"Relatively speaking, it's a good verdict, but we are disappointed that the jury sent him to prison," said defense attorney Chris Gunter.
The jury had the option of giving Grady probation, which he could have served in New Jersey, where he is set to graduate Seton Hall University with a 4.0 grade-point average. Instead, Grady will go to prison, pending Judge Frank Maloney's ruling on a last-minute motion for a new trial.
Gunter said he only filed the motion so Grady can remain out of custody on a $100,000 bond for a few more days. Maloney has 75 days to rule on the motion.
During sentencing testimony, the prosecution tried to turn the focus of the trial to the loss that Flobeck's friends and family experienced. Flobeck's mother, Rita, told the jury she and her husband are both on antidepressant drugs, and her children experienced nightmares because of Flobeck's death.
Grady's family and friends, many of who work in law enforcement, testified that his personality had become more subdued since the incident, and he had taken responsibility for what happened. They all said he would be a good candidate for probation.
"This horrible act is not what Ryan Grady is about. This is an aberration," said Tom Harrison, a friend of Grady's family and a New Jersey police officer.
In closing arguments for sentencing, the prosecution asked for the maximum 20 years in prison and $10,000 fine, while the defense asked for probation.
The jury began deliberating at about 7 p.m. Friday and did not deliver a sentence until 10:51 a.m. on Saturday. At one point Friday night, Assistant District Attorney Gary Cobb said the jury was deadlocked between prison and probation.
After the jury was dismissed Saturday morning, Flobeck's family and friends took the stand to directly address Grady for about 30 minutes regarding their loss.
"It's hard to enjoy life or get as excited as you did before," Flobeck's mentor and family friend Mike Rutter said.
In the final moments of the trial, some of Flobeck's family said they could forgive Grady for what he had done.
"When you grow old, please make something of your life," said Flobeck's father, Donald, to Grady.
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