A Douglas County judge has sentenced Tracen Franklin to life in prison without the possibility of parole in the beating death of a teen during a house party.
Tillman didn't know his attacker and was standing among friends when four young men lashed out against him. Prosecutors said that Franklin inflicted the most serious injuries, stomping until Tillman's heart tore open.
Franklin later told authorities that he was frustrated that night about his status on his high school football team.
A hung jury was declared last Friday after deliberating for four days on the issue of if Franklin should face the death penalty for the murder. This left the judge the options to sentence him to life in prison with or without parole.
On Friday, Franklin asked for mercy.
"I hope you accept me as a young man who makes mistakes and can and will accept the consequences," Franklin said.
Tillman's mother, Monique Rivarde, said the apology was both long overdue and too late.
"During the trial and everything, you know, him rocking in his chair, and bopping to music in his head, and looking back at us and smiling -- I didn't see remorse so the statement didn't really mean anything to me," said Rivarde.
The judge brushed aside Franklin's plea that he had made a mistake and sentenced him to life without parole.
Franklin's family declined to talk with reporters. His lawyer says he hopes the sentence will finally bring some healing to the Tillman family and Douglas County.
Franklin is one of four charged in Tillman's murder. One person has already pleaded guilty and is serving life with parole. Two others still face charges.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:48 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:48:00 GMT
Local families are taking a serious look at storm shelters in the aftermath of Monday's deadly tornado in Oklahoma.
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A federal court has struck down Fayette County's at-large method of electing members to certain county offices, saying the method was a violation of the Voting Rights Act.
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Two Clark Atlanta University students who call themselves brothers despite being from opposite sides of the world have graduated as valedictorian and salutatorian.
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Tracen Franklin waits to hear his sentence for his role in the stomping death of Bobby Tillman.
Bobby Tillman
