CBS Atlanta 46Man sentenced to 205 years in prison for setting ex on fire

Man sentenced to 205 years in prison for setting ex on fire

A man convicted of dousing his girlfriend with gasoline and setting her on fire will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Clayton County Judge Geronda Carter sentenced Orville Brooks to 205 years in prison after the jury found him guilty on nearly all of the numerous charges against him, including the most serious, attempted murder.

Prior to the ruling, Best's parents asked the judge to impose the maximum penalty.

"What happened to her horrendous, a monstrous act performed on my daughter that day," said her father, Rodney Best.

"The pain, the suffering, almost dying. She was on life support for three months, disfigured for life. She was in agony, in agony," said her mother, Nicole Ramsey.

For Tara Best, the past year has been filled with agony and suffering. Best nearly died last January during the horrific crime.

"Pain, I had to learn how to walk and talk all over again," Best said. "Maybe he didn't have any remorse and maybe he didn't really love me. If he could do something so cruel to me," Best said.

Best thanked the judge and the jury and said they made the right decision.

"It turned out to be a great outcome," Best said. "I feel great I want to jump for joy."

Before best left the courtroom, the judge told best these inspirational words.

"This incident did not kill you. Don't let it kill you mentally and emotionally. If someone says aren't you the one, you say ‘yes, I'm the one who survived.' You put a smile on that beautiful face of yours and you live your life," Carter said.

Ramsey said her daughter wants to attend college to study physical therapy.

"My future does start today," Best said.

Brooks' lawyer said he would appeal.

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