Watch CBS News

Life In Prison For Woman Accused Of Killing Miami Cop, Her Boyfriend

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – It's life in prison for Tiniko Thompson, the woman convicted of murdering her boyfriend, Miami Police Officer Carl Parick, in May 2014.

On Friday, Thompson was sentenced to life behind bars. Thompson's expression never changed during her sentencing hearing.

"I wish that morning never happened. I loved Carl," she told the judge and Patrick's mother who was in the courtroom.

Thompson's family, including her mother, insisted she was the victim of domestic violence.

"She's  a good person...give her a chance," said her mother Annie Braddy.

But Patrick's mother told the judge her son was fooled and paid the price with his life.

"He felt she was so special...little did he know she'd take his life from him," said his mother Lucille Patrick.

Back in August, jurors took less than two hours of deliberations to convict Thompson of murdering Patrick.

Patrick's close friends said the verdict was about more than justice. They said it was also about restoring Carl Patrick's good name.

Melissa Johnson worked with Patrick for more than two decades. She said Thompson falsely accused the beloved officer of being an abusive boyfriend.

"The defendant tried to depict him as an abuser and it's quite to the contrary," she said. "He was not. He was a loving person, a loving son, a loving friend."

Thompson alleged that the shooting death was self-defense. She said she and Patrick argued, wrestled with a gun and it fired. But prosecutors convincingly proved to jurors that Thompson lied to Patrick about being pregnant with his child, ran up his credit cards and the couple fought.

They said Thompson shot Patrick in the arm and left him to die without getting him medical help.

"The sentence won't bring my son back but at least she won't be able to kill another person," Lucille Patrick.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.