Brock Franklin (R)- the Charlotte teen accused of driving drunk and causing a deadly wrong-way crash on Interstate 485 in February entered a no contest plea to second-degree murder charges this morning.Brock Franklin, 18, will spend 12 to 15 years in prison for the deaths of Eddel Rivera and Richard Bryant on Feb. 18, 2006. Franklin will not be able to drive when he is released from prison. In addition, he has to pay court costs and restitution to the families of his victims.
Rivera’s mother, who wiped away tears as Franklin was led into the courtroom in handcuffs, cried throughout the court proceeding. Bryant’s father, Michael, spoke out, wanting Franklin to know the pain he’s caused. “My son is dead. I will never be able to bowl with him, shoot pool with him – do anything with him – and someone’s going to walk away with a little (slap on the wrist),” he said. Bryant says the plea agreement stuck between Franklin’s attorney and the district attorney’s office is allowing the teenager to get away without enough punishment. “They had a wonderful future ahead of them, and it’s cut off thanks to some silly drinking, disrespect for law and people,” he said. “My whole world has been shattered.”
Today was the first time the two families whose lives have been destroyed by the tragedy have been in a room with Franklin. He spoke directly to them: “I truly am sorry for what happened. It shouldn’t have happened at all,” he said. “I just want you to know how sorry I am. I hope one day each of you can forgive me for the things that happened.”
In court, an Alcohol Law Enforcement agent testified that in an interview with Franklin, the teen told him he drank about 11 beers before the wreck at an underage drinking party. Franklin, he said, admitted to blacking out.
In court this morning, the teen told the families that he believes someone slipped something into one of his drinks. His mother said she believes that. “There are many others who contributed to this tragedy, but you are the one to pay this penalty,” Robin Franklin said on the stand.
The families of those killed by Brock Franklin in that fiery February crash want others to see what happened in the courtroom and to see the teen being led to prison in handcuffs. A camera from their attorney's office rolled as Franklin entered his plea. The attorney plans to take the tape to local high schools in an effort to prevent drinking and driving. He also said within the next three weeks, Bryant’s and Rivera’s families will file a civil wrongful death lawsuit. Source: WSOC-TV * Read the transcript of Franklin's interview with detectives. *