SAN ANTONIO – The woman convicted of killing San Antonio police Officer Sergio Antillon in a 2010 drunken driving accident was sentenced to 45 years in prison on Friday.
With a unanimous verdict, the jury declared Sandra Briggs' car was used as a deadly weapon.
Briggs had plead no contest in her intoxication manslaughter case, allowing the jury to decide her fate.
And as the judge read Brigg's her fate, there were tears from Antillon's family and fellow officers.
Antillon was run down by Briggs in a drunk driving accident in October of 2010.
Police said that Antillon was just leaving work and was off duty, helping another stranded motorist when Briggs slammed into him. He died several days later.
After the verdict, Antillon's fiancé addressed Briggs. Briggs showed little emotion, only looking at the ground.
"My life will never be the same due to this tragic accident," said his fiancé. "I get aggravated every time I think the cause of the accident. This is an accident that could have been prevented."
District Attorney Susan Reed argued for Briggs to get life in prison, but she said on Friday night that she was pleased with the jury's decision.
"It sends a very strong message," said Reed. "And, I think this jury worked very hard. I think they were well intentioned and I think they just recognized what the right thing to do was and they did it."
The prosecution began Friday's testimony with the cross-examination of Briggs. They showed Briggs video of her field sobriety test following the fatal accident.
"You knew that there was someone who was hurt and you were just going to lie your way out of it?" asked District Attorney Reed.
"I did not know anyone was hurt and no one told me," Briggs replied.
Briggs admitted to being confused during the sobriety test and mixing up her days. She also said she failed to mention she had been drinking, she said, in order to protect the bar -- saying it was her fault that she was intoxicated, not the pub's.
She also remained steadfast that she was unaware that anyone was hurt in the accident until much later at the police station.
San Antonio police Chief William McManus joined onlookers Friday afternoon as closing arguments began.
"You either understand how dangerous getting in a car and driving drunk are or you don't," Reed said. "In Bexar County, we consider people (who are) driving drunk (to be) using a deadly weapon."