The mother of Cherish Perrywinkle confronted anti-death penalty protesters outside the Duval County Courthouse Thursday.
A jury recommended the death penalty for Donald Smith, convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle in 2013.
Minutes after the jury recommended the death penalty, nuns with a local church protested capital punishment outside the courthouse.
Cherish’s mother, Rayne Perrywinkle, drove by.
“Don't keep him alive so he can keep getting out,” Perrywinkle said in response to the protesters. “It ends now."
“This is a difficult case for all of us here,” said Beverly DiStefano, a sister at the St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Orange Park. “An innocent child lost her life but taking Donald Smith's life or anybody else's life will not bring Cherish back.”
The group says it balances faith with sympathy for the families of victims.
“I understand their anger," DiStefano said. “I understand their feelings toward Mr. Smith, but still again, I think about our God. He said in the Ten Commandments, 'Thou shalt not kill.'”
Perrywinkle had a biblical quote of her own.
"The Bible says, ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,’” Perrywinkle said.
The trail ended nearly 5 years after Cherish died. It was a long wait for her mother, who was visibly emotional leaving the courtroom after the jury's death penalty recommendation.
After confronting the protesters, she had a different message for families on the First Coast.
“Thank you everyone for your support,” Perrywinkle said. “I couldn't have done it without you. This is for Cherish and other victims out there. Thank you so much.”
Even though the jury recommended the death penalty, judge Mallory Cooper still has to decide whether confirm that decision. A Spencer Hearing was set for March 28 at 9 a.m.