Although sentencing hearings usually focus on punishment and restitution, one such proceeding this morning took an interesting twist after the wife of a man killed by a drunk driver asked the judge to remember the gift of forgiveness.

In August, 23-year-old Jeffrey Harrison, of Park City, pleaded no contest in 3rd District Court in August to driving under the influence of marijuana and alcohol and causing an accident which killed three people at 3:40 a.m. on Nov. 25, 2006, near mile marker 29 on I-80.

This morning, Harrison stood by the jury box and listened to stories of how much families of victims Vakataha Mila, 42, of West Valley City, Valentine Kioa, 50, and Sosaio Fehoko, 69, both of Salt Lake City, loved and missed them.

A 30-year-old woman who was also injured in the accident was present, but did not address the court.

According to court papers, Harrison was headed to the state of Washington from his Park City home, but instead of taking his usual route north on I-15, he headed west on I-80. He was driving west in the eastbound lanes on I-80 when the accident occurred. Investigators do not know how long he was on the interstate traveling in the wrong direction, or how he managed to get 100 miles off course. Blood test results revealed a blood alcohol level of 0.11. The state's legal limit is 0.08.

Harrison, a professional skier was also injured in the accident, and now has limited use of his left arm and hand. Also, as a result of the accident, Harrison has no memory from 12 hours prior to the accident to two weeks afterwards.

Defense attorney Walter Romney Jr. told the court his client could be an advocate and spokesman for organizations such as Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD) due to his prominence as a pro skier.

"He could go out and tell others about the impacts of making bad decisions," Romney told the court.

Family members of the three people killed in the accident told of the closeness the victims, who are all Tongan, had with their families.

Lomani Dietz, who flew in with her mother from Northern California for the sentencing, told the court about the day she received a call informing her that her brother (Mila) had been killed. She said telling her mother and nephew about the accident was the hardest thing she has ever had to do.

"He had so many years in front of him. His life meant something, it had value and meaning. He was loved," Dietz said.

Tivina Iako, who had been married to Kioa for 26 years, did not speak to the court. Instead, she had written a letter which was read by Tooele County Victim/Witness Advocate Holly Johnson.

The letter was not addressed to the court, but rather Harrison's parents.

In the letter Iako said, "I hold no grudges against your son. I forgive him. Those who do not forgive have the greater sin. I believe it was my husband's time to go. He is in a better place."

In the letter, Iako asked the judge to not sentence Harrison to the maximum allowed for his crime, but to consider a lesser sentence so Harrison will know that forgiveness counts.

Judge Mark Kouris was so moved by Iako's letter that he gave Harrison about three hours to spend with his family.

Instead of being taken to prison immediately, Kouris gave Harrison until 3 p.m. to report to the jail.

Harrison will serve three sentences of zero to five years in the Utah State Penitentiary. Two sentences will run consecutively and one concurrently. The Class B misdemeanor DUI charge was dropped as part of the plea agreement.