"Forgive one another and so that you will be healed."
~ James 5:16
They took just 28 minutes - less
time than it took the prosecutor to deliver his closing argument, to notify the
Judge that they’d reached a verdict. Six
women and six men delivered their decision after just two days of testimony
that included a single defense witness.
The jury forewoman stood clearing her throat nervously. She spoke in a somber tone, not a criticism
of the accused who shriveled like a burnt match on the courtroom chair.
“We the jury,” she began, “find the defendant Chante Jawan
Mallard, GUILTY in the charge of murder and GUILTY of tampering with evidence.
After entering the verdict in the court’s records, the Judge
excused the jury with his compliments and suggested a recess to consider a
suitable sentence. The local prosecutor wanted
a life sentence, the maximum possible due to the horrific and callous nature of
the crime. The defense argued for
leniency, albeit lacking much enthusiasm due to the circumstances.
Greg Biggs, 37, a self-employed bricklayer who took
medication for mild schizophrenia lost his life in a bizarre and cruel way at
the hands of an intoxicated Mallard who’d been drinking and smoking marijuana
the night of the accident. It gets
worse.
The accident left Biggs lodged in the windshield of Mallard’s
car. Its impact broke Biggs' thigh bone,
shin bones and arm on his right side, nearly amputated his left leg, and gouged
his torso.
With Biggs embedded in her windshield, Mallard drove to her
house, parked the car in the garage, and left the man to die slowly. For several hours, Biggs lay bleeding but
conscious in the broken windshield of a car that hit him. He probably would have survived if the driver
had called for help, a medical examiner testified at the trial. She later testified to sitting in the car,
crying and apologizing to the moaning casualty.
Biggs was dumped in a park the day after the incident. Mallard was arrested four months later after a
tip led authorities to her.
Mallard appeared drained as she returned to the courtroom
anticipating a harsh sentence. But
first, she’d have to hear the angry words of a distraught son who asked for a
word before sentencing. Brandon Biggs, the
victim’s son, addressed the court.
"To the Mallard family, I’m sorry for your loss as
well," he said. "To Chante, no
matter how great the crime was or how great the sin was, God still forgives us.
I personally accept your apology and, in
return, I hope that you will accept my forgiveness and the forgiveness of Jesus
Christ."
Moments later, Mallard was escorted out of the courtroom in
custody as her mother sobbed. Under
Texas law, she would serve no less than 25 years in prison.
Jesus, bless me with the power of forgiveness,
give me the strength to let go of all ill-will, to forgive myself of my own
failings and sins, knowing that you have already forgiven me. Amen
