Chaos Erupts in Courtroom After Man Sentenced in Student's Death

Willie Craft, who is 59, was sentenced to three and a half years Wednesday for reckless homicide

A chaotic scene developed in a Champaign County courtroom on Wednesday when an Urbana man was sent to prison for striking a University of Illinois student with his pickup truck and killing her.

Willie Craft, who is 59, was sentenced to three and a half years Wednesday for reckless homicide.

Craft's his son, 30-year-old Willie Craft Jr., was then ordered to jail for six months for contempt of court after yelling profanities at Champaign County Judge Richard Klaus, the News-Gzaette reported.

The elder Craft drove his truck into 20-year-old Mimi Liu of Chicago in October 2013 as she walked to class. Another student was injured.

Craft reportedly suffered extremely low blood sugar because of diabetes.

Craft apologized several times Wednesday.

Liu's father, Zhi Liu, said his family will forever be incomplete.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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