“How Dare You!” A Birmingham Judge’s Powerful Words After a DUI That Took a Life
- mattgreenlaw
- Jul 12
- 4 min read
A Laugh. A Smirk. A Life Lost.
On the night of April 2, 2022, Khari Jamal Walker, a 29-year-old father from Moody, Alabama, was struck and killed on Interstate 459 in Hoover. He had just been involved in a crash with a tractor-trailer, and his car was left disabled in the travel lane. While he was walking across the right lane toward the shoulder — doing everything right, with his hazard lights flashing — he was struck by another car.
The driver was 17-year-old Shannon Elizabeth Jones, who was intoxicated and under the influence of marijuana. Khari was taken to UAB Hospital and pronounced dead just after midnight. This tragedy was senseless — and what happened in court years later only deepened the pain.
What Followed: A Trial, Tapes, and No Remorse
Jones was indicted for reckless manslaughter but ultimately convicted of the lesser charge: criminally negligent homicide.
At sentencing in July 2025, prosecutors recommended 10 years with only 2 to serve. Her defense attorney asked for probation. But after hearing more than 300 recorded jail calls, Circuit Judge Alaric May was appalled.
In those calls, Jones was recorded saying:
“I just know when I smoke the first time, I’m going to be so high,” she laughed.
She dismissed writing apology letters to the court and Walker’s family as “so (expletive) stupid.”
The courtroom heard not contrition, but contempt.
Judge May’s Powerful Sentencing Statement
Visibly angry, Judge Alaric May made his thoughts clear:
“Miss Jones never showed a shred of emotion.She smirked while Mr. Walker’s mother testified. She laughed during the interview about the conduct that killed this man. It was to the point where I was wondering if there was a medical or emotional issue that prohibited her from showing emotion,” he said.
But after her conviction?
Judge May concluded with a devastating judgment:
“It was a total disregard for Mr. Walker’s life, in this court’s opinion.”
And finally:
“How dare you choose to be that person on the tapes and then put on a show with fake emotions... It’s going to be a long time before she gets heat.”
Jones was sentenced to 10 years in prison — far more than even the prosecutors expected.
Who Was Khari Jamal Walker?
Khari was a son, a father, and a human being with decades of life ahead of him. His family described him as responsible and kind — someone who, even in crisis, did everything right.
He turned on his hazard lights. He walked toward safety. He wasn’t drinking. He wasn’t high. He was doing what anyone would do.
And then someone — underage, intoxicated, and distracted — ended his life.
Khari’s mother, Peggy Stephenson, even asked prosecutors to offer a plea deal. She wanted peace. But Jones rejected mercy, chose a trial, and then laughed behind bars.
What This Teaches Us
Drunk and drugged driving kills — regardless of age or intent.
Real remorse cannot be faked. And when it is, courts see through it.
Victims deserve more than apologies. They deserve accountability.
Justice Means More Than Sympathy. It Means Action.
At the Law Office of Matt Green, we don’t just understand courtroom strategy — we understand courtroom integrity. As a former prosecutor and judge, I know how to expose fake apologies, push for maximum accountability, and give victims and families the voice they deserve.
If you’ve lost a loved one because of a drunk or drugged driver:
We will demand the full truth.
We will pursue maximum compensation.
We will make sure the offender never forgets the life they took.
📞 Call 251.434.8500🌐 Visit alabamaduiinjurylawyer.com
Because when someone smirks in court and laughs in jail after taking a life, we don’t just grieve — we go to battle.
Matt Green represents injury and accident victims and those harmed by drunk and drugged drivers. Matt served as a municipal court traffic court judge in the City of Mobile and the City of Saraland for nearly a decade. Before that Matt prosecuted major felonies, traffic homicides, and violent crimes in the Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office. He teaches trial advocacy to Mobile Police Cadets and speaks to the Mobile County Court Referral Victim Impact Panel. Matt also advocates for free speech, economic liberty, and due process. He may be reached at 251.434.8500 or by e-mail at matt@mattgreen.lawyer or by Twitter @greenlawoffice
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