Kenneth Charles Hardy wasn't there for his birthday last week. He died Jan. 7, 2005, when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver who fled the scene.
But his family says he still received a gift: justice. Dallas artist Johnice Ingram Parker was found guilty Thursday, which would have been Mr. Hardy's 37th birthday, for failure to stop and render aid, a felony offense. Mr. Hardy was struck by Ms. Parker as she drove through north Oak Cliff.
State District Judge Fred Tinsley is scheduled to consider Ms. Parker's punishment Nov. 21. She faces between probation and five years in prison. Mr. Hardy's sister, Kim Hardy, said her brother is at peace now and so is she.
"When the trial first started, I had so much hate and anger toward her," Ms. Hardy said. "But by the end, I really and truly believe that she regrets what she did. All our family wanted was for her to admit that she did it and she's sorry."
When Ms. Hardy and her mother testified, Ms. Hardy said, Ms. Parker cried.
The night of the accident, Ms. Parker had been at a jazz club. While driving west on Davis Street about 1 a.m., she said, she hit something but did not know what. The side mirror on the car was almost knocked off by the impact.
Mr. Hardy was hospitalized and died several days later. Ms. Parker had previously said through her attorney Cheryl Wattley that she had a couple of drinks that evening but denied being drunk.
Prosecutor Melissa Carl said she anticipates asking Judge Tinsley for five years' probation and that Ms. Parker pay restitution to Mr. Hardy's family.
"God works in mysterious ways. He died on my mom's birthday when she was celebrating another year of life," Ms. Hardy said. "And he got justice on his birthday." The sentencing date "is the birthday of our deceased grandmother," she said.
"At this point, it really doesn't matter if she walks or gets jail time. We got what we wanted. All we ever really wanted was justice for Kenny."
