A story out of Seattle that strains the limits of the topic at hand:
Prayers, forgiveness and heartbreak echoed through a King County courtroom Friday as the friends and loved ones of Teresa Butz addressed Isaiah Kalebu, the man who raped and killed her in her South Park home two years ago. Afterward, Kalebu was sentenced to prison for life without parole for that crime and for the rape and attempted murder of Butz's partner, Jennifer Hopper. Hopper, who barely survived being raped and repeatedly stabbed that night, faced Kalebu and told him, "I do not hate you."
"I realize there is nothing I can say to you because I did beg you for my life and she begged you for her life," Hopper said, staring at Kalebu as he leaned back, expressionless, in a restraint chair. "I'm so sorry for whatever it is in your life that brought you to this. I am glad that you will never be able to hurt anyone else again."
Eli Sanders was also in the courtroom:
[Jim Butz, one of Teresa's brothers,] turned to Kalebu. "I don’t know you, and you don’t know me, and we’re just two human beings, and I don't know your back story" Jim Butz said. He quoted from Romans, spoke of everyone falling short of what's expected of them. "I’ve prayed for you every day since this happened," he concluded. "I hope I see you in heaven. I’m serious."
Kalebu responded: "I’ll be there… God bless.”
The Dish 