By James  Nye A courtroom in Cincinnati witnessed extraordinary scenes on Friday when a bereaved father publicly forgave the young woman who had killed his 21-year-old son in a hit and run accident. So emotionally fraught was the moment Bill Walker absolved Lauren Balint, 23, for striking  Chris Walker in February of last year, that the judge admitted she almost broke down in tears ahead of her verdict. With his wife next to him and Balint stood only six feet away, Walker told her that she was 'totally forgiven. I hope you get married and have a good, long life.'
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Pastor Bill Walker stood up in court in Cincinnati and faced the woman who killed his 21-year-old son, Chris
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Told Lauren Balint that she was 'forgiven' and said he didn't want two lives ruined
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Judge Melba Marsh had yet to reach a verdict and said that Walker's speech swayed her
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Balint, 23, was given two years probation instead of a custodial sentence
Forgiving Bill Walker to @placeholder in court on Friday