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Speaker tells of friendship, forgiveness with murderer
By Ricky C. Anderson/Contributing Writer
Sue Norton, whose father and stepmother were murdered in 1990 by Robert Wesley Knighton, shared her personal experience Wednesday during a speech about murder and the death penalty.
Norton forgave and befriended Knighton, not only because she had realized he had made a mistake, but also because she realized she was against the death penalty. The trial's prosecution still pushed for the death penalty, though, and succeeded � Knighton is currently on death row.
"I didn't know anything about the death penalty at the time my parents were killed. I would never see them again, but I felt sympathy for B.K. that day in the courtroom," Norton said. "I realized he was a human being and that he didn't do right, but he just made a mistake. I forgave him because my grandmother taught me how to forgive, and how to never hate."
Norton talked about how she had mixed feelings the whole time during the trial. She didn't know what to think or how to grieve.
"I knew God was there talking to me and guiding me, and He said to go talk to him," Norton said.
Norton spoke of how she was so nervous when she went to visit Knighton in jail one day that she could barely breathe and talk when arranging the visit with the jail security. When she talked to Knighton, she noticed by his appearance that he looked different than what she would have imagined a murderer to look like.
"'I just wanted you to know that I don't hate you. If you're guilty I don't care, and I forgive you,'" Norton said she told Knighton. "He then said I am guilty, and I am sorry." Norton prayed with Knighton during the visit.
Norton spoke about how she was becoming a very good friend to Knighton, and was getting to know him on a more personal level.
"He was abused sexually, mentally and physically by a man in his family during his childhood," Norton said.
Norton explained the death penalty makes more victims.
"How many victims are there in an execution?" Norton said. "There is pain enough having to inject the lethal injection and to pull the handle for the electric chair. Even watching can be painful to someone. In a lethal injection, in nine minutes the accused criminal is dead. Locked up for their life is punishment enough. Nobody deserves the death penalty. It is horrible to live in prison, and if you ask B.K., he's ready to die."
Norton said revenge isn't the answer for those who are grieving a loved one who was murdered.
"I really miss my daddy, and yes I am angry. But I realized, there is nothing to bring them back," she said emotionally. "Hate doesn't get us anything in life. Hate and anger are like a cancer that grows in you."
Norton also talked about how her family has loved her throughout the hardship and helped her to evade grieving, sustaining her happiness.
"I am blessed by my children and husband because they were there for me, right by my side every minute and every day. I am condemned constantly by people I know, even though people are supposed to forgive, according to God. I am considered the crazy one, because I forgave a murderer."
Look for the book about Norton's life called "For They Know Not What They Do." Knighton's attorney's wife, Dianne Stewart, is writing the book.
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