LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. — The trial of a man accused of killing someone who was trying to keep him from driving drunk from a child's birthday party near Gilbert ended in mere days with a lengthy sentence.

On Thursday, a judge sentenced 31-year-old Jose Manuel Ramirez of Lexington County to 12 years in prison for the death of 24-year-old Marbel Lopez.

Investigators said that on Sept. 2, 2023, an intoxicated and argumentative Ramirez left a child's birthday party with Lopez attempting to stop him from driving drunk. Prosecutors said Ramirez got into his vehicle and sped out of the yard with Marbel still hanging onto the side. Ramirez reportedly then exited an open gate, throwing Marbel from the vehicle and into a fence in the process. Prosecutors said Ramirez then hit a dumpster and a parke

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