Graswald sentenced in kayak homicide
Viafore's sister,
Graswald was sentenced in
Under state sentencing guidelines, she'll likely be free by the end of December because she has been in lockup since her arrest in 2015.
Rice told Judge
On
For more than two years, prosecutors maintained that Graswald had intentionally started the lethal chain of events in order to escape the relationship and collect
When Graswald pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide, prosecutors elicited her admission that she was culpable for his death because she knew the plug had been missing, knew that weather and river conditions had deteriorated, knew that Viafore had been drinking and that he wasn't wearing flotation vest, and that she failed to recognize the lethal danger posed by those risks.
"The defendant, through her criminally negligent actions, left the world a lesser place," Senior Assistant District Attorney
"He was a good person. He was a decent person. He was a true friend," Byrne said.
Rice said her brother was loyal and brave, like a big brother to her son, and the fun uncle to her daughter. He would give money to homeless people, or take time to take a neighbor's child to a bike shop to repair a damaged bicycle tire. He remained close to his former wife, Rice said. He loved to seek new experiences, loved cooking, and had mastered the art of smoked ribs, bringing them to every party.
"My brother did not deserve to have his life end this way," Rice said. "We believe Angelika should be held responsible for the actions she admitted to."
Rice said the family also wish for Graswald, a native of
Graswald's lead lawyer,
"No thank you," she responded.
After listening to Rice, reading letters from family and friends of Viafore, and reading the presentencing investigation, Freehill said, it's apparent that Graswald has "some kind of narcissistic personality disorder," an "exaggerated sense of self-worth."
Was Viafore's death due to a missing plug or damaged paddle clip?
"Not really," Freehill said. "It was the immediate act of your being in your kayak and Vincent floundering in the water, and you taking no action to help him."
It shows a lack of appreciation for the feelings of others, he said.
Married and divorced twice before, clearly Graswald knew how to end a relationship, Freehill said.
"You could have walked out on Vinnie if you were unhappy," Freehill told her.
He sentenced her to the promised one and a third to four years, and imposed a fine of
Portale objected to the fine, which wasn't mentioned during the plea negotiations.
After court, Portale issued a statement: "Sometimes, sadly, in all the chaos and hype of a criminal prosecution, we can lose our perspective about why we are really here, especially when a life was lost. His name was
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