Amy Senser Sentenced To 41-Months For Vehicular Manslaughter
Amy Senser, the wife of former Minnesota Viking Joe Senser, was sentenced to 41 months in prison today for vehicular manslaughter.
Senser insisted in court that the hit-and-run was an accident.
She apologized to the family of Anousone Phanthavong before she was sentenced, saying:
This isn’t about me and I’ve waited a long time to say I’m sorry…. I hope you can believe me that I never saw your son that night, and if I had I would have stopped to help him. I don’t know what pain I have caused, I can only imagine how much you must miss him… I just hope one day you can forgive me for taking Anosoune from you.”
ESPN reports that Senser struck and killed Anosoune last Aug. 23rd. Senser told police that she thought she hit a traffic cone.
Hennepin County District Court Judge Dan Mabley said that he believed that Senser was remorseful for killing Anosoune. He did not believe, however, that Senser was unaware of the accident until after the fact. Mabley said:
“I don’t entirely trust her account. I trust her remorse though… This avoidance of responsibility was not out of panic or confusion. It was orchestrated. A certain momentum develops around these denials.”
Still, Mabley handed down a lenient sentence. According to UPI, Senser received the smallest possible sentence. She could have received a maximum sentence of just under five years in prison.
Before her sentencing, Senser had Phanthavong’s name tattooed on her wrist.
Her attorney, Eric Nelson, said:
“She carries a very heavy burden. She describes it as being responsible for his soul. In any way that she can possibly have a daily reminder of him, even as time goes by and life becomes easier for everyone, she wants to be constantly reminded of the responsibility that she has towards Mr. Phanthavong and his family.”
Do you think Amy Senser sentence was fair?
Phanthavong’s family said after the trail that they were satisfied with the result.
Khonevichith Phanthavong said:
“What we got was justice today… We forgive her.”
