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L.I. DWI Victim Remembered In Courtroom Tribute

NEW YORK (1010 WINS / WCBS 880 / CBS 2) -- The family of a Long Island man choked back tears in court Wednesday as they played a video tribute to their son and brother, who was killed by a drunk driver.

Timothy Motherway, 35, died pulling into his East Rockaway apartment driveway in March of 2009 as the drunk driver, Patricia Bregel, of Lynbrook, rammed into him and crushed his car.

LISTEN: WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reports
LISTEN
: 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera Reports

On Wednesday, as part of their victim's impact statement, the family got permission from the judge to play a 3 minute compilation of Motherway's life, featuring pictures of him growing up set to music with video footage, 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reported.

Motherway's brother, Michael, said he hoped it would make an impact on Bregel, but that may not have been the case even as much of the courtroom was in tears.

"She didn't even watch the video when it was on, she was talking to her lawyer," Michael Motherway told CBS 2's Jennifer McLogan.

But the man's brother held out hope that Bregel was truly sorry after she apologized in the courtroom for killing Motherway.

"I hope that she really is remorseful. I hope that she really does know...how great of a person he was. And that's what we wanted to express in the video," he said.

Michael Motherway described his family as very Irish, Catholic, and close knit. The family received support from dozens of loving friends and relatives, who stood by them during the difficult plea deal.

Motherway's sister, Kelly, who put the video together, also said she hoped Bregel and those present in the courtroom would be moved by the montage.

"I wanted them not only to hear from us, but to see him and see Tim throughout the years...to see what we are going to be without forever," she said.

McLogan reported that despite being drunk and speeding, Bregel got 2-6 years in a plea deal because she had the right of way in the crash.

The family, meanwhile, said they were sentenced to a life without their loving son.

"When you get behind the wheel of a car and you've been drinking, it is a premeditated act," the victim's mother Peggy Motherway said, "you're putting everyone in danger on the road and that's what happened and my son paid the price for [Bregel's] destructive decisions."

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