13 April 2010 :

A Harris County jury sentenced Mabry Landor to death for killing a Houston police officer. Landor, 29, black, was found guilty of capital murder in Officer Timothy Abernethy's death on Dec. 7, 2008. Prosecutors said Abernethy stopped Landor, who was on parole for drunken driving, in the 5800 block of Sunforest Drive near West Tidwell Road. Detectives said Landor got out of an SUV and ran though the Luxor Park Apartments before fatally shooting Abernethy. Landor first denied shooting Abernethy, then he told detectives it was an accident. Landor took the stand and claimed that an unidentified bystander fired the fatal shots. After the verdict, the judge asked Landor if he had anything to say, and he replied, "No sir." Then Officer Timothy Abernethy's son T.J. took the stand and gave a victim impact statement. He looked directly at Landor and told him, "From the bottom of my heart and in all sincerity, I forgive you. I pray that your family and your children have a very happy life." Also the officer's widow told Landor she forgave him. "We continue to march on. We let Tim and Daddy live through us and be who he was on this earth through us for the rest of the days of our lives. And we go about continuing to do good," said Stephanie Abernethy. "What has happened today is a manifestation of God and his will being done. We do not harbor any bitterness in our heart because, actually, we would be no better than him if we did."