Paralyzed Woman Finally Gets Closure
Christine Kent went face to face with her former friend and attacker
By SANGEETA KOCHAREKAR
Updated 8:16 PM EDT, Fri, Oct 2, 2009
Two years after being shot in the spine, run over by a SUV, and left for dead, Christine Kent can finally have some closure.
Her attacker, Allan Sinclair IV, was sentenced Friday to life in prison for conspiring to rape, kidnap and kill Kent.
Sinclair’s sentencing was more about Kent’s perseverance than her attacker’s punishment. Kent lives with more than the emotional scars of the attack. She is paralyzed from the waist down.
“She wanted to stay alive. […] And then she told me, ‘Had I known that I would have to go through this much pain and this much agony, I don’t know that I would have prayed to stay alive,’” testified Judy Banks, Coconut Creek Police Department Victim Advocate.
Kent tearfully described the incident in detail at the sentencing.
“I was in disbelief that I’d just been shot. I thought this was really messed up. I never did anything to this guy. I’ve only been nice; I’ve always showed him kindness.”
Sinclair showed up at Kent’s house on August 4, 2007 at around 10:30pm to rape his one-time acquaintance. Kent, who hadn’t seen Sinclair in three years, unsuspectingly invited him in.
Sinclair pulled out a gun, but, according to Dr. Michael Brannon, who evaluated him, never had any intent to shoot Kent. However, when she tried to run, he fired two shots; hitting her right foot and spinal cord.
Instantly paralyzed, Kent fell to the ground. However, Sinclair was not done. He backed his car, a Chevrolet Trailblazer, over Kent’s limp body and then dragged her away to be hidden behind the hedges.
An apologetic Sinclair, along with both of his parents, also spoke at the sentencing.
“I can’t tell you how sorry I am for what happened. If there is any way I could take it back, I would,” he said. “You didn’t deserve anything that happened to you and I wish I could give you an explanation.”
Broward Judge Marc Gold called the incident “unbelievable” and sentenced him to life in prison.
Kent, who is unisured has spent thousands on medical bills while waiting for Friday’s outcome. A fund has been set up to assist her and you can donate money at www.transplantfund.org and search “Christine Kent.”
First Published: Oct 2, 2009 5:18 PM EDT
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