USA - Nevada. Cynthia Portaro asked prosecutors to stop seeking the death penalty for Brandon Hill, the man convicted of her son's murder

Cynthia Portaro asked prosecutors to stop seeking the death penalty for Brandon Hill, the man convicted of her son's murder. Michael Portaro, 22, White, was killed on March 30, 2011 by Brandon Hill, 22 at the time, Black. The now 26-year-old Hill was convicted on Feb. 20 of first-degree murder, robbery with use of a deadly weapon and grand larceny auto. Hill apologized today to Portaro's mother, Cynthia Portaro, and she stood and asked Clark County District Court Judge Elissa Cadish to spare Hill's life. The judge agreed to let prosecutors withdraw a call for the death penalty for Hill. Prosecutors agreed to the request and said they would ask a sentence of life without parole. Portaro and Hill family members embraced outside court. Cynthia Portaro told reporters she's relieved because good Christians can't live with hatred, animosity and anger. “I personally didn’t want to see another person die. I got what I wanted — an apology from Brandon. I felt a sense of relief that there is no hatred, animosity, anger”. The Portaro family has started a support group for grieving families called Mourning Hope of Las Vegas. “I just help other families through trauma, give them hope, give them tools, guidance, comfort, love, support, knowing that if they can see me being able to do it, they can do it, too,” Portaro said. “It helps me to help others."