MARIETTA, Ga. – A woman who was arrested after her 4-year-old son was struck and killed by a van as they were jaywalking across a busy street was spared a prison sentence Tuesday following an outcry over her prosecution.
Raquel Nelson, 30, was convicted by a jury earlier this month of vehicular homicide and other charges for not using a crosswalk and could have gotten three years behind bars — far more than the six months the hit-and-run driver served.
Instead, without explanation, Judge Kathryn Tanksley gave the suburban Atlanta mother a year’s probation, ordered 40 hours of community service, and took the unusual step of offering her a new trial. Nelson’s lawyer said late Tuesday that she will take the judge up on the offer.
A crowd of supporters broke out in applause.
“I’m ready to go home,” a relieved-looking Nelson said. “I’m walking out of here. I don’t feel like I can be more satisfied.”
Prosecutors’ extremely rare decision to bring charges against the grieving mother had created a furor, with Nelson’s supporters calling the move cruel and heartless.
More than 125,000 people joined an online petition campaign asking for mercy. The Georgia branch of the NAACP called the case against the single black
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