A South Florida mother hunched forward, sobbing, as she sat beside the man who killed her son in a crash last year as he avoided prison time at an emotional hearing on Friday.

For about five minutes, the two shared a rare and heartbreaking conversation, as part of a request the heartbroken mother sought as a form of sentencing.

The tearful meeting happened after 33-year-old Michael Smith accepted a plea deal for the November 2024 crash in Princeton that killed 14-year-old Lazaro Martinez. Family Photo

Instead of prison time, Smith was sentenced to 10 years of probation, 10 years without a driver’s license, and 250 hours of community service. Additionally, Smith will not be considered a convicted felon.

In court, Martinez’s mother broke down in tears as she sat face-to-face with Smit

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