Grieving widow of tragically killed pastor shocks courtroom

It was a moment of deep pain for the grieving family when the man convicted of the death of his beloved husband, father and pastor publicly apologized in court last week.

Marcel McMillan, who was sentenced to a maximum of 22.5 years in prison after 63-year-old preacher and missionary Dean Elliott was killed in the crash, spoke to Elliott's family in court.

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“I want to apologize to the family because it was not intentional,” he said, according to WZZM-TV. “I know I had to put you through a lot. That was not my intention. I'm sorry.”

McMillan had pleaded no contest, but had been convicted of serious crimes in the past, which reportedly contributed to his more than 22-year prison sentence.

Elliott's wife, Brenda, also spoke in court and described the events that unfolded when her husband was killed on U.S. 131 in Michigan on April 2, 2023.

“It was like a very tragic and sad movie,” Brenda said. “But it was my reality.”

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Other family members shared similar stories and emotional struggles.

His son expressed regret that his father could not attend his wedding, and Elliott's daughter described feeling “depleted of emotional energy” that had profoundly affected her life.

But another moment stood out in the courtroom: an act of forgiveness.

“Marcel, I have forgiven you,” Brenda said. “But your actions have consequences that require justice, and society deserves protection from your continued dangerous and illegal decisions.”

To read the full story, visit our content partners at Faithwire.

Reprinted with kind permission of faithwire.com. Copyright © 2024 The Christian Broadcasting Network Inc. All rights reserved.

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