Jefferson Woman's Killer: Please Forgive Me
Demetrius Diaz-Bridges apologizes to victim's family, saying he 'messed up.'
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Demetrius Diaz-Bridges believes he has God’s forgiveness for killing Elizabeth O’Brien in her Nolan’s Point Road home in January 2008. Now he would like the forgiveness of her family, including her sons, whom he once considered his friends.
“I am sorry,” Diaz-Bridges said as he spoke on his own behalf at the sentencing hearing on Friday. “Whether it’s today, tomorrow, 20 or 30 years from now, I hope you guys forgive me. I know God has. I apologize. I messed up.”
Diaz-Bridges was sentenced to 40 years in prison, of which he will have to serve 85 percent before he is eligible for parole.
He maintained O’Brien provoked him because the two fought when he was unable to provide her drugs. He admitted to pushing her during the argument and then hitting her in the head and body several times with a dumbbell after she had already blacked out for a short period.
Judge Robert Mega, in imposing the sentence, said Diaz-Bridges could have called and gotten help after O’Brien hit her head the first time, but instead, chose to beat her until she died.
Diaz-Bridges’ grandmother, Linda Diaz, said her heart breaks for the family of the victim.
“My prayers will always be with them, and with my grandson,” Diaz said. “I love him very much and I am going to stand by him. I know he would like the family’s forgiveness.”
auntl
1:18 am on Friday, July 13, 2012
i think its unfair for all parties included, hers and her family and his and his family. i am not sure of all the exact things, like none of us can be, of what happened that day but i DO NOT think that he woke up that day thinking i will kill this woman like she didnt wake up thinking i will die today. i do not feel it is fair to take a life for a life because there are other circimstances involed. for instance he has kids, his children will grow up without a parent too not judt hers. it may not be logical to most to think that he should have the right to be a father after this however it is not up to us judge, its up to God, his kids should not be punished they had nothing to do with that. im sure that her children who now have no mom anymore will agree that is not right to not have a parent. its not just but it is not right on any child. no matter what his punishment is she will never come back, he is a young man who had the oppertunity to change is life and is now robbed of that. i was there in the court, and it was not fair. the only side heard was of the victims family. the defendants family had no right to say anything. it is not fair a woman was killed and it is not fair that her loved ones will have to miss her and live their changed lives in a manor that they wouldnt have normally done and i feel for them with my deepest sympathy and empathy. i do not wish that on anyone. i do not also feel its fair to him from his family,
auntl
1:18 am on Friday, July 13, 2012
people are selfish not wanting to give forgiveness yet go to church and pray to a jesus they dont follow with their whole heart, forgiveness is not something we do for other people we do it for ourselves. they are only hurting themselves. ms. obrian was forgiving and how dare her family not be.
Nina Jay
8:52 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Hes where he should be hes an animal i hope he has a nice big room mate in prison who loves his momma : )