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Drunk Driver Gets 40 Years For Fatal '06 Crash

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Mar 26, 2010 7:42 pm US/Eastern

Drunk Driver Gets 40 Years For Fatal '06 Crash

Eugene Baum Sentenced In Deaths Of Two Teens

Reporting
Jay Dow

MORRISTOWN, N.J. (CBS) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: Eugene Baum reads an apology to the Jafar family on March 26, 2010.
CBS

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Emotional closure has been elusive for the Jafar family -- a journey that began four years ago when Eugene Baum was charged with mowing down and killing 15-year-old Mayada Jafar and her 16-year-old cousin, Athear.

"He killed my daughter and he ruined my family and took away my pride and joy," said Majida Jafar, Mayada's mother.

The family, which is from Kinnelon, finally got the opportunity to say their peace in open court during Baum's sentencing in Morristown.

"The last day I saw my sister, her lifeless body was lying there, as a woman was picking leaves and debris from her hair. That image will never leave my mind till the day I die," said Ammany Jafar, Mayada's sister.

Baum, 48, choked up while offering an apology to the family. "I recognize your daughters were your future."

He was sentenced to 40 years in a state prison for the fatal crash.

"It took us four years to get here, but if you had truly any sympathy, you would have pled guilty and not made us work and suffer through these years," said Hasan Jafar.

It was four years ago on April 2006 when Baum got behind the wheel with his blood alcohol level four times the legal limit.

Police said Baum struck the two teenage cousins from behind, as they walked in the shoulder of Kinnelon Road. Prosecutors said he never swerved out of the way and never hit the brakes.

Hilmi Jafar, Mayada's father, said the sentence gave his family peace. "Now I can go to the graveyard and tell my daughter you can rest in peace now. You got justice."

Baum, who will get credit for the time he's already spent in jail, will be close to 80 years old before he's eligible for parole.

Before his trial, he rejected a plea bargain offer of 20 years in prison. He was convicted in February.

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