Woman Hugs the Man Who Killed Her Husband of 50 Years, Offering Forgiveness in Tearful Court Moment By Bailey Richards

As a Georgia man was sentenced to 20 years for killing a man in a hit-and-run, the victim’s wife did something that shocked even the judge.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen the wife of a victim hug the defendant where they killed somebody,” said Cherokee County Superior Court Judge Tony Baker, according to ABC 7 Chicago and Atlanta outlet WSB-TV. 

Baker’s comment came after he witnessed Regina Johnson embrace Joseph Tillman, the man who killed her husband of 50 years, Chuck Johnson, in a hit-and-run last year, the outlets reported.

Tillman was under the influence of nitrous oxide when he struck 78-year-old Chuck, who was riding his electric bike, according to WSB-TV.

The Georgia widow embraced Tillman, who pleaded guilty to charges related to her husband’s death, in a Cherokee County courtroom on Thursday, Aug. 7, and wrapped her arm around his neck, footage shared by the Atlanta station shows. The pair hugged for several seconds, with Tillman red-faced and tearful when they pulled away from each other.

In a whisper mid-embrace, Regina also told Tillman she forgives him, according to WSB-TV. In response, she said he whispered back, repeatedly apologizing: “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Tillman also apologized in an emotional statement during the sentencing. “I pray that you hear my heart when I say I am truly, completely sorry,” he said, his voice quivering, per footage shared by the Atlanta news station.

Regina said she hugged him because “God told her he needed a mom hug,” according to WSB-TV. “Joey doesn’t know yet how much God loves him,” she told the outlet. “Joey needs healing of things in his past, as we all do. And that is our heart and prayer.”

Tillman pleaded guilty to three counts of homicide by vehicle, plus felony hit and run, making a false statement, DUI, and reckless driving in a non-negotiated plea, the Atlanta outlet reported, citing Cherokee County Assistant District Attorney Pete Lamb.

He was sentenced to 20 years, with the first three in prison, ABC 7 Chicago and WSB-TV reported. The prison sentence was suspended on the condition that he complete a two-year inpatient rehab program, according to the outlets.

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Chuck’s daughter, Brittany McCarthy, was also in court for the Aug. 7 sentencing. In an emotional statement, she told Tillman, “I will always be the daughter of a man that you killed,” per footage captured by WSB-TV.

“I will be the daughter whose heart you shattered, a life you forever changed because of your choice to do drugs while driving,” said McCarthy, who was visibly emotional. “You became a deadly weapon, and my father paid the price with his life.”

Tillman’s lawyer, Paul Ghanouni, said that “he’s changed his way of life,” per WSB-TV, and “seems like he’s on a trajectory to continue to move forward with his life in a positive way.”