'I didn't ever hear you say you're sorry': Tex McIver sentenced to life in prison

ATLANTA — A judge sentenced Buckhead attorney Tex McIver to life with the possibility of parole for murdering his wife.

In April, a jury convicted McIver of intentionally shooting and killing his wife, Diane, as they rode in their SUV in 2016.

McIver spoke during the sentencing, saying the outpouring of support has been "tremendous."

He spoke briefly about his relationship with Diane, saying it was so good they would often question if it was real.

"The luckiest day of my life was when Diane chose me," he said. "We loved each other like small children."

But after his more than 10-minute statement to the court, the judge pointed out what McIver didn't say.

"I'll tell you what's most telling. You had as much time as you wanted to share with me what you thought was important for me to hear and I guess your audience to hear. We heard about race horses in Australia and Chick-fil-A and telepathy, a brief psychoanalysis of the male ego and boasts. I didn't ever hear you say you're sorry for what you did. To me, that silence speaks volumes," Judge Robert McBurney said.

"I think it just showed his narcissistic tendencies. It was all about him," prosecutor Clint Rucker said of the speech.

Diane McIver's close friends said they weren't surprised by the speech.

"It was Tex -- me, me, me. He was talking about Tex. He was not talking about this tragedy and this tragic loss of life," Jay Grover told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik.

"To still not hear those three words, I am so sorry, just still left a hole in my heart," Elaine Williams said.

Grover and Williams were among those who gave victim impact statements before the sentencing.

Diane's mentor, Billy Corey, spoke at the sentencing, saying that she was the "family matriarch of U.S. Enterprises." He ended his speech by saying "Rest in peace, Diane."

Grover, a longtime friend and colleague of Diane's, said her death left a "huge void that can never be filled."

Williams, Diane's former assistant, said she's found "peace and forgiveness," but says Diane's death left a huge "hole in her heart."

The only witness to the shooting, Dani Jo Carter, said Diane was her friend for 40 years.

"This has been one of the saddest and most horrific incidents that has happened," Carter said.

Channel 2's Mark Winne talked to attorneys on both sides of this case Tuesday.

McIver is 73 years old and will not be eligible for parole for at least 30 years.

The district attorney said he fully expects McIver to appeal his conviction, but it could take at least a year and a half for the Georgia Supreme Court to even hear it.

Nearly 80 witnesses testified over the 19 days of the murder trial, with McIver choosing not to take the stand in his own defense. Prosecutors argued that McIver killed his wife, Diane, in September 2016 for financial reasons. The victim was president of U.S. Enterprises Inc. when she died.

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