Preston Phillips spoke with the Banda family who for months, says they've wanted to apologize to the family of Kent Haws and the entire law enforcement community.

The family speaks out for the first time in a KSEE 24 News exclusive.

The murder of Tulare County Sheriff's Detective Kent Haws, in December of 2007, sent shockwaves throughout the state.

Leaving his family, friends, and the entire law enforcement community devastated.

But now, 8 months after the murder, the family of accused killer, Jorge Banda reaches out to the haws family for the first time, in an exclusive interview with KSEE 24 News, something Jorge Banda’s father, Ignacio says he's wanted to do since day one.

Ignacio Banda, Jorge’s father: "I’ve been looking for a time and an opportunity to ask for forgiveness to the families. I feel sad and a lot of pain to see what has happened and I am extremely sorry to his wife."

Banda's father says, without a doubt, his son should be punished for what he did, but asks that his mental state be considered before a decision is made.

Ignacio Banda: "When he was living here, a lot of the time, he would hear voices and the voices would tell him to do things."

Fernando Banda, Jorge’s brother: "It’s really scary because, like my dad said man, everybody knows, he wasn't right in the head."

Family members claim Jorge has been hearing voices for the last 5 to 6 years.

But some, including clinical psychologists, who have evaluated Banda, believe such voices may be caused by years of chronic meth use.

But his brother Fernando says the problems began much earlier.

Preston Phillips, KSEE 24 News: "You think its possible meth caused the voices?”

Fernando Banda: “No, even before, when he didn't know about that stuff, he started hearing things."

His family says they believe Jorge is mentally retarded.

Born in a small village in Central Mexico, they say he wouldn't be the first.

Maricela Banda, Jorge’s sister: "We have cousins. My nephew is mentally retarded. We have cousins, uncles that are mentally retarded. Their blood is related to each other's parents."

Fernando Banda: "my mom and dad, they're cousins, so they're cousins, the same blood, but i don't know how to tell you, but it comes from the family, my other cousins, you will see a lot of people like that."

But the Banda’s say they're still not sure why, Jorge would have wanted to shoot and kill an officer of the law.

His brother Fernando, says Jorge was never involved in gangs,

His sister Maricela says, when asked why he shot detective haws… he appears to be confused.

Maricela Banda: "He says I don't know, I don't know what's going on. He said he didn't know why he did it. He just doesn't know why."

Now, the Banda’s say they pray, the courts find Jorge incompetent to stand trial for murder, because they believe, he's simply incapable of understanding what he's done.

His mother, Agapita Banda:

Agapita Banda. Jorge's mother: "I’m sorry for the family, their suffering. We're also suffering too, because what my son has done, he is not aware of it. He's not right in the head."

Click on the video link to watch Preston Phillips' exclusive report.