“It is rather unfortunate but the statement from the civil attorney for the victim’s family could not be further from the truth,” wrote Zy Richardson, a spokeswoman for the office, in an email. “The victim’s family were not only informed and present at every stage of the process, including court proceedings, but approved the offer made by our office prior to our recommendation to the court. In fact, it was the family’s expressed concerns of the victim’s fragility and other undisclosed circumstances that led to our recommendation to the court.”