Moments after being sentenced to life in prison, Josh Griffin turned to victim Kim Medlin's family and insisted he was innocent of murdering her. On Wednesday, the same jury of eight men and four women deliberated about three hours before sentencing Griffin to life in prison instead of death. Medlin's mother, Sharen Heaston, looked Griffin straight in the eye as he spoke. Griffin was to be transported Wednesday night to Raleigh's Central Prison. He was given a life sentence for murder and six to eight years for kidnapping.
Appeals are automatic in first-degree murder cases.
Griffin's speech in court was the first time he has spoken publicly since Medlin's murder March 29. His attorney, Harold Bender, had asked the judge if his client could speak. And everything they say is true. I'm not an angel. And I'm not perfect.