By Sharon Turco
The Cincinnati Enquirer

When a juvenile court judge said she didn't think a 17-year-old understood the seriousness of running over and killing a toddler while driving without a license, the girl's mother jumped up and defended her daughter.

"That's not true, my daughter was screaming and hollering when she learned that somebody died," said LaRubia Richardson, 39, of Kennedy Heights. "She said, 'I wish it had been me because the child didn't get to have a life.' "

"She is very remorseful, my whole family is remorseful," Richardson added. "She has to live with this the rest of her life. There's not a time when she hasn't (been crying) when we've gotten off the phone."

The family of Tyaisha Hall, the 2-year-old killed May 31 when the teen lost control of a car while driving in St. Bernard, doesn't believe the teen's remorse.

The teen admitted guilt to a charge of vehicular homicide June 19 and was scheduled to be sentenced Friday. Sentencing was postponed until Aug. 1, pending further reports.

During a hearing Friday in Hamilton County Juvenile Court, the 17-year-old remained emotionless and quiet, even when asked by the judge if she had anything to say.

"I can accept it was an accident," said Brenda Hall, the child's grandmother. "You don't have to break down and cry, all I want you to do is say you're sorry."

Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Sylvia Hendon ordered the girl to write a letter detailing her feelings.

"I can't make you feel anything; nobody can," Hendon said. "But I can order you to express what your feelings are."

Hendon told the teen she would be sent to Passages, a residential treatment program for chronic misdemeanor offenders.

More details about the day of the crash emerged during the hearing when Hendon questioned the teen.

She had run away from Lighthouse Youth Services' New Beginnings residential home for traumatized females April 29 and was living with a friend. It is unclear why she was in the program.

The day of the fatal crash, the girl was learning to drive with a friend, whom she had lied to, saying she had a temporary driver's permit, when she did not.

She was driving a Ford Taurus about 5:30 p.m. in the parking lot of a Kentucky Fried Chicken near Vine Street and East Mitchell Avenue when she put her foot on the accelerator instead of the brake, according to police reports and what the girl said in court.

At a speed of no more than 15 mph, the car jumped the curb and hit five people, killing Tyaisha, and injuring four others, including Tyaisha's 10-month-old brother.

E-mail sturco@enquirer.com