Road Rage Victim's Act of Extraordinary Forgiveness Stuns Judge

Teresa Neumann : Sep 14, 2009
Joe Gyan Jr. - The Advocate

Forgiveness from a 70-year-old man who lost eight teeth and suffered a crushed ear canal and 40 stitches in his face.

(Baton Rouge, Louisiana)—The Advocate reports that a 70-year-old man who lost eight teeth, suffered a cut on his upper lip that required 40 stitches and had his hearing aid crushed into the inner canal of his ear during a road rage attack last year, astonished Baton Rouge state court officials Tuesday with an act of forgiveness.

Steve Bonfanti reportedly told the court he would set aside the $41,000 in restitution that District Judge Richard Anderson ordered from the mother of his two attackers, for the education of her two young grandchildren.

Anderson, quoted as saying he "had never witnessed such an extraordinary move in his court," sent Baton Rouge brothers Johnny Mutrie, 26, and Eric Mutrie, 19, to prison and put their mother, Rhonda Mutrie, 54, on probation for their roles in the violent beating of Bonfanti.

According to the report, Bonfanti, who did not ask for restitution, pledged the funds for the education of Johnny Mutrie's two young daughters.

Click on the link provided to read details of the road rage incident and the subsequent court case.