FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A woman who was intoxicated when she crashed her car into a cabana, killing a pregnant woman, was sentenced Friday after agreeing to a plea deal.
Rosa Rivera Kim pleaded guilty to two counts of DUI manslaughter to a judge.
Kim was sentenced to 15 years in prison and 15 years probation, which runs consecutively. She will also have to pay restitution for damage to the building and must perform 50 hours of community service per year. The court can mitigate or modify the sentence in about six months.
Kim, who is now five months pregnant, was noticeably fidgety in court Friday and at times could be seen wiping tears from her eyes.
Dr. Steven Gold, a psychiatrist for the defense, testified during her sentencing hearing that Kim was abused as a child and suffers from post-traumatic stress and dissociative identity disorders. He said she suffered blackouts and feels remorse for what happened.
Fort Lauderdale police said Kim's blood-alcohol level was 0.24 percent after she crashed her car into a cabana at a Fort Lauderdale hotel March 18, 2012, killing Alanna DeMella, 26, and her unborn baby.
DeMella was seven months pregnant. She and her husband were vacationing in Fort Lauderdale, and she had just gone into the restroom at the cabana when the car crashed into it.
Kim apologized to DeMella's family, choosing to speak from the heart instead of reading from her prepared statement.
"I would've thrown myself in front of a car if I would have seen that happening," a tearful Kim said.
Michael DeMella said he considered forgiving Kim until he found out she was pregnant, calling it irresponsible of her given the timing.
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