Jury Recommends Life Plus 419 Years In Jail For Man Who Ran Over Activist

James Fields Jr.

A jury has recommended that James Fields Jr. receive a sentence of life in prison plus an additional 419 years for running over and killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer during a "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia on August 12, 2017. 

Fields' defense team argued that he had a history of mental illness and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when he was six years old. He was also diagnosed with a schizoid personality disorder but the 21-year-old stopped using his medication when he turned 18. 

The defense's arguments did not sway the jury, which spent four hours over two days deliberating after hearing emotional testimony from Heyer's family and other victims of Fields' attack. 

35 people were injured when Fields drove his car through a crowd of counter-protesters who had gathered in response to the "Unite the Right" white nationalist rally.

Wednesday Bowie, who suffered a broken pelvis and has been dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, told the jury that "the world is not a safe place with Mr. Fields in it."

Heather's mother, Susan Bro, said that the death of her daughter was like an "explosion" for her family and said that they "just took it for granted that we’d be around for each other for years to come.”

“Heather was full of love, justice, and fairness,” she said. “Mr. Fields tried to silence her... I refuse to let him.”

The decision on how long Fields will spend behind bars now rests with Judge Richard Moore, who will issue a formal sentence on March 29, 2019. 


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