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Last updated 5:52 pm CT November 20, 2009.
Kerrigan Sentenced, Victim's Mother Speaks Out
Kerrigan pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the 2006 death of 22-month-old Brynden Gibson.
With time served and good behavior Kerrigan could be out of prison in less than three years.
The child's family says that sentence is NOT long enough.
As the family of Brynden Gibson learned of Peter Kerrigan's sentence their emotions spilled from the courtroom. At this point all Rebecca Gibson can focus on is the injustice she says her family will have to live with.
In a one-on-one interview following Kerrigan's sentencing Gibson insisted he's responsible for shaking her son to death,"My son lost his life on account of somebody else honestly because of somebody else's rage."
Gibson says State's Attorney Chuck Garnati was unsuccessful in obtaining expert testimony from two St. Louis doctors regarding shaken baby deaths.
She says this hurt the case and Garnati agrees,"Without those doctors, in my opinion, there was no way that we were going to get first degree murder."
Gibson's next hope was for an extended sentence of 28 years for involuntary manslaughter.
As for the maximum of 10 that was handed down, Gibson says, "It's not enough- he took my son's life."
And as emotions come to a head following a 3 year court battle, Gibson's father said this is a turning point, "Today it begins to get over. Starting today, Rebecca can heal."
By: Emily Eddington
eeddington@wsiltv.com
Now: 1258767999
