Theodore Wafer, an airport maintenance worker from suburban Detroit, was sentenced to spend at least 17 years in prison for killing an unarmed woman who showed up on his porch after being found guilty for second degree murder, manslaughter, and possession of a firearm last month.
It isn't clear why the victim, 19-year-old Renisha McBride, an African-American knocked on the door of 55-year-old Wafer's house in Dearborn Heights, a predominantly white suburb in Michigan, before dawn in Nov. 2 last year, although some believe that McBride may have been looking for help as she had a car accident.
The fact that Wafer shot the woman through his screen door, however, was not disputed as Wafer himself called 911 and admitted to shooting somebody with a shotgun. Wafer told the 911 dispatcher that he shot somebody who was banging on his door and then gave his address.
Wafer claimed that his action was prompted by self-defense and his trial was centered on whether or not he honestly and reasonably believed that he was in danger when McBride came pounding on his door as Michigan law allows the use of deadly force if this criterion is met. The jury, however, rejected Wafer's claim that he only acted in self-defense.
On Wednesday, Judge Dana Hathaway handed down the sentence that would get Wafer spending 17 to 32 years behind bars. In addition to 15 to 30 years of jail time for second-degree murder, Wafer will get two years for unlawful use of a gun.
Before his conviction, Wafer apologized to the family and loved ones of McBride.
"To the parents, family and friends of Renisha McBride, I apologize from the bottom of my heart and I am truly sorry for your loss," Wafer said. "I can only hope and pray that somehow you can forgive me."
The case has made a stir because of racial tension. Wafer, who was convicted on Aug. 7, is white and McBride is black. Although some believe that McBride's death was a result of racial profiling, Hathaway said that as she sees it, race has nothing to do with the case albeit she said that Wafer's actions were not justifiable.
"I do believe that you acted out of some fear but mainly anger and panic," Hathaway said. "An unjustified fear is never an excuse for taking someone's life.... So what do we have? One life gone and one life ruined."
