Judge orders killer driver to be haunted by picture of his victim

Pierce: Ordered to display picture of his victim
13 April 2012

A killer driver has been ordered to display a large photograph of his teenage victim at his home for three years.

Arthur Pierce, 31, must put a 2ft high picture of Chelsi Gregory on permanent show accompanied by the words: "I'm sorry I killed you."

The unusual punishment was ordered by a judge when he jailed Pierce for two years. He will be obliged to display the photograph as part of his three-year probation on his release from prison.

Pierce, who was over the drink-drive limit, was racing his cousin on a busy street in Winter Haven, Florida, when they caused the accident that killed 17-year-old Chelsi.

Witnesses told police Pierce was swerving in and out of traffic at about 120mph in a 45mph zone when his Cadillac collided with a pick-up truck in which Chelsi was a passenger.

He escaped a more severe sentence after the main police investigator in the case suffered a heart attack and died before the trial. Under a plea bargain, Pierce admitted vehicular manslaughter. He could have been jailed for up to 15 years.

Judge Robert Doyel said that Pierce's probation officer will be allowed to search his home at any time to check that a photograph at least 2ft high is displayed in a prominent place.

He warned Pierce that if it is not, he will be deemed to have violated his probation and will be sent back to jail.

Chelsi's parents, Johnny and Jeanna, reluctantly agreed to the lenient sentence - but welcomed the order over the photograph.

Her 45-year-old father suffered a stroke in the days after the accident. In a statement read to the court, he said: "My life is devastated without Chelsi. She was a huge part of my life. I will always love and miss her."

Pierce's cousin, Christopher Pierce, will be sentenced next week for his part in the death race.

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