The Honorable Judge Morse, Prosecution and Honorable Members of the Jury,

I would like to start by thanking the court for allowing me to speak today. As we know on the night of
May 7th my beautiful Mother Kathy Henry was taken away from my family. My mother may not have
been perfect person but I think I can speak for all of us when I say no body is perfect. My mother was
always trying to help someone in need and she enjoyed the outdoors. My mother I believe was called
home to early but I believe that in her heart, in the final moments of her life, she was at peace because
she died trying to help someone in need as her final duty. I received the news about my Mother around
11-12 the night of May 7th, the weeks and months following that day all blurs together. May 8th was
mother’s day and instead of calling my mother to wish her a happy mother’s day I was driving home to
plan my mother’s funeral, something no child should ever have to do. I was supposed to be home that
weekend and I regret it to this day no matter what anyone says. I was crushed, my mother was my best
friend we fought from time to time but I talked to her about everything and she was my fishing partner
and I miss her more and more every day. Laquan Jivens took a piece of me away that I will never get
back.

Furthermore, in the last almost 3 years my life has been a roller coaster I fell into a deep depression and
began drinking quite heavily. I drank to the point of numbness most nights so I could sleep, which
affected my military career because I no longer had motivation to do anything.I also have issues with
talking to people and explaining my circumstances and how my mother was murdered. Not exactly the
best conversation piece. My father has helped fill that gap best he can but we butt heads a lot because
we are just alike. My family has done wonders to help me through this process but it’s still the number
one thing I think about every day.

In closing, this crime has not only affected my physical and mental state, but has also affected the way I
see crime in Chatham County. These kids and teenagers equate carrying a gun, selling drugs, and being
in a gang as being “cool”. They don’t realize that a gun should only be legally possessed and should be a
last resort option if you fear for your life or the life of another. I believe the youth of this country need
more positive role models in their lives rather than rappers, drug dealers, and gang members. Laquan
Jivens has committed one of the worst crimes known to man, and the way I was raised there are
consequences to your actions. I believe Laquan Jivens is a violent person and a threat to society, and in
my opinion Laquan Jivens deserves to spend his life in prison thinking about how he killed my mother. I
believe he deserves the max punishment allowed by the state. I hope that whatever is decided that
Laquan Jivens learns from his bad decision and realizes what he did doesn’t just affect him and I but also
his child who will have to grow up seeing his father behind a sheet of glass. I think once he truly realizes
this, then and only then will he be rehabilitated and able to be released back into society.

Thank you for your time.