Long Enough? Judge Sentences Drunk Driver Who Killed a Man and Then Confessed It on YouTube to 6 1/2 Years

In early September, "I Killed A Man," a bizarre YouTube video showing Matthew Cordle admitting to driving drunk, traveling the wrong way on a highway and killing Vincent Canzani became a viral sensation on the Internet. On Wednesday Cordle's 3 1/2 minute confession was played in an Ohio courtroom during a sentencing hearing. The maximum time Cordle could have received was 8 1/2 years, a judge ordered him to spend the next 6 1/2 years in prison.

Image: You Tube victim's daughter, Angela Canzani .

Before the sentence was pronounced, the victim's daughter, Angela Canzani delivered a powerful appeal for the judge to give Cordle the maximum sentence of 8 1/2 years. Ms. Canzani's  presentation included  the emotional statement, "My sister, Marie, and I will never see our father's face again. Our children will never see their grandfather again. We will never hear his voice. We will never hug him."

Cordle, who privately apologized to the Canzani family, also spoke at the hearing, telling the court, "I am so sorry for the pain I have caused you, for the loved one I have taken from you. It should have been me that night, the guilty party, instead of an innocent man."

While the judge initially opted to not play Cordle's video during the sentencing hearing, he changed his mind over the weekend and did play it.

Prosecutors also asked Judge David Fais to give Cordle the maximum sentence. Instead, the judge sentenced Cordle to six years for the vehicular homicide charge and another six months for operating a vehicle while impaired. Cordle also lost his driving privileges for life.

Do you think Cordle received the correct sentence? We invite you to participate in our Blaze poll and weigh in with your comments below.

 Follow Mike Opelka on Twitter - @stuntbrain

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