The mother of a teen boy stabbed to death at Coral Gables High School said she feels sorry for his convicted killer but hopes he spends the rest of his life behind bars.
Dr. Anais Cruz, the mother of 17-year-old Juan Carlos Rivera, spoke out Wednesday, a day after 19-year-old Andy Rodriguez was found guilty in the murder.
"I feel very sorry for him, I just feel sorry for a young person who has destroyed life," Cruz said of Rodriguez. "I cannot believe someone would do something like that."
A Miami-Dade jury deliberated for just over three hours Tuesday before finding Rodriguez guilty of second-degree murder in the September 2009 killing.
Rodriguez and Rivera had gotten into a fight in the halls of the school before Rodriguez pulled out a knife and stabbed Rivera in the school's courtyard.
Jury foreman Riva Homnick said there was some discussion about whether it was just a fight thst got out of control, but didn't doubt that murder was the proper charge.
"Manslaughter is accidental negligence. It was not an accident," Homnick said. "You can't come to school with a knife and stab someone five times."
Now Rodriguez is facing life behind bars at sentencing, scheduled for Oct. 4. That's exactly the sentence Cruz is hoping is handed down.
"He should serve the rest of his life in prison," a tearful Cruz said. "He tore away half of my heart, I never knew pain like this could exist."
Cruz also took time to thank the community for their prayers and support and to thank jurors for their decision.
"The verdict will not return my son but the verdict is a relief," she said.
