Drunk driver convicted of murder, more

Derrick McCoy was convicted of second-degree murder Wednesday in Edgecombe County Superior Court for the May 2008 motor vehicle death of a Whitakers teenager.

[ATL]

The judge was very harsh on Mr. McCoy. I feel sorry for the victim's family, but 19 + years in prison??

[Sura]

My heart and prayers go out to the Dickens family. I am a mother of 3 daughters and my worst nightmare is to get a phone call like the one that the Dickens family received on May 10, 2008. However I would like to say something about Mr. McCoy, he is like a gentle giant and one of the nicest men that I have ever met in my life. My heart also goes out to his family as well and he will also be in my prayers.

[McCoy cousin - Cola SC]

My heart and prayers go out to the Dickens family for their loss. I am a single mother with one child, so I can only imagine their pain. I pray that God will strengthen and heal the entire family as time goes onward.
I want everyone to know that my cousin is a very humble man who would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need (regardless of race, color or creed). He doesn't have an evil bone in his body, and he's not some kind of monster!
I will say that he made a really poor decision on that fateful day in May 2008 and now three families have to deal with the loss.
It's going to be tough, but I know God will see all of us through.

[McCoy cousin - Cola SC]

ATL wrote:

The judge was very harsh on Mr. McCoy. I feel sorry for the victim's family, but 19 + years in prison??

I work for the S.C. Judicial Dept., and the judge gave my cousin so much time because of the fact that he had three prior offenses - one just a month before this tragic accident.

In a judge's eyes, that's a blatant disregard for the law. Rather than seek professional counseling, my cousin chose to get behind the wheel of a car for the fourth time, and the result was fatal.

[McCoy cousin-Cola SC]

ATL wrote:

The judge was very harsh on Mr. McCoy. I feel sorry for the victim's family, but 19 + years in prison??

I work for the Judicial Department, and the judge gave my cousin so much time because of the fact that he had three prior charges.

In a judge's eyes, that's a blatant disregard for the law because rather than seeking professional counseling, my cousin chose to get behind the wheel of a car, and it proved to be fatal.