JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A woman convicted of first-degree murder last month in the fatal shooting of the pharmacy manager at Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center was sentenced Thursday to life in prison.
Coney's defense never disputed that Brenda Coney fired the fatal shots that took the life of Shannon McCants in November of 2006, but tried to convince the jury that Coney was legally insane, living in a delusional world where she thought McCants and others were plotting against her.
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Prosecutors said Coney was so upset when Shannon McCants told her to go to the back of the line that she returned with a gun two days later intent on killing McCants.
The jury agreed, convicting Coney after only 45 minutes of deliberations.
McCants, 37, was the mother of two and was pregnant with another child.
Coney did not speak during Thursday's sentencing hearing, but her stepmother did made a statement of apology before the sentence was handed down.
"It's done, but it doesn't bring Shannon back," said the victim's husband, Derrick McCants, after the hearing. "(She was) a valuable citizen in Jacksonville, but more importantly, a mother of two, a friend of many, my wife, my confidant, my best friend."
The state did not seek the death penalty in the case. First-degree murder carries a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison, which Circuit Judge Hugh Carithers handed down Thursday morning.
"The decision was made some weeks ago. This just puts a little more closure (on it)," said Reggie Hartley, who is co-manager of the pharmacy and witnessed McCants' shooting.
Previous Stories:
- September 19, 2008: Coney Guilty Of Killing Pharmacy Manager
- September 17, 2008: Defense: Woman Was Insane When She Killed Pharmacy Manager
- September 16, 2008: Co-Workers Of Woman Killed At Pharmacy Testify
- September 15, 2008: Trial Begins In Slaying At Pharmacy Case
- November 19, 2007: Judge: Slaying Suspect Not Fit For Trial
- November 26, 2006: Community Says Goodbye To Mother Slain At Hospital
- November 22, 2006: Police: Shooting In Shands Pharmacy Was Premeditated
- November 20, 2006: Shands Pharmacist Dies After Hospital Shooting
- November 20, 2006: Fatal Shooting Raises Questions About Hospital Security