JANUARY 13, 2012-

KYLE BOLASKI WAS SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE TODAY FOR VINNIE'S MURDER ! HE MUST SERVE AT LEAST 25 YEARS BEFORE HE'S ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE!

WCAX NEWS LINK: http://www.wcax.com/story/16514847/2012/01/13/bolaski-to-be-sentenced-for-murder
 

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THIS WAS A DAY WE'VE WAITED OVER 3 YEARS FOR. THE DAY VINNIE'S KILLER IS MADE TO PAY THE PRICE FOR TAKING HIS LIFE. WHETHER IT BE COINCIDENCE OR FATE, THE DATE WAS FRIDAY THE 13TH! IT WAS A COLD AND DREARY DAY. THERE WERE OVER A DOZEN OF US MAKING THE FINAL, FATEFUL JOURNEY TO VERMONT. THE RIDE WOULD BE SLOW AND SLIPPERY WITH RAIN AND SLEET ALL ALONG THE WAY.

WE ARRIVED AT THE COURTHOUSE AT 8:45AM. JUST MOMENTS EARLIER I RECEIVED A CALL FROM JOHN LAVOIE SAYING THAT KYLE BOLASKI HAD BEEN PICKED UP LATE AT THE PRISON AND THEREFORE WOULD BE LATE GETTING TO THE COURTHOUSE. WE WENT THROUGH SECURITY AND WAS MET BY KELLY WOODWARD, OUR ADVOCATE. WE FOLLOWED HER TO OUR USUAL MEETING ROOM IN THE BACK. GWEN LAVOIE WAS IN THE ROOM WAITING, JOHN ENTERED A FEW MINUTES LATER.

JOHN EXPLAINED THE SEQUENCE OF THE COURT PROCEEDINGS. HE SAID THAT WE WOULD BE GETTING UP FIRST TO READ OUR IMPACT STATEMENTS. THERE WOULD BE ME FIRST, THEN MY WIFE RONNIE, FOLLOWED BY MY BROTHER RANDY. THEN MY SON CHRIS AND MY DAUGHTER VANESSA. THEN BOLASKI'S FAMILY CONSISTING OF HIS 2 AUNTS, HIS SISTER, THEN HIS MOTHER AND FATHER. COREY BOLASKI WAS CURIOUSLY ABSENT FROM THAT LIST. DEFENSE ATTORNEY GRIFFIN HAD APPARENTLY DECIDED NOT TO LET COREY GIVE AN IMPACT STATEMENT. TO US THE REASON WAS OBVIOUS. JUDGE ZIMMERMAN HAD SEEN ALL THE EVIDENCE AND KNOWS THAT COREY WAS INVOLVED IN SETTING VINNIE UP AND THAT HIS STATEMENT WILL DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

 JOHN SAID THAT ONCE EVERYONE HAD SAID THEIR STATEMENTS THEN HE WOULD GET TO SAY HIS RECOMMENDATION FOR SENTENCING AND THEN GRIFFIN WOULD GIVE HIS STATEMENT FOR LENIENCY. JOHN TOLD US THAT AT THE VERY MINIMUM KYLE WOULD BE DOING 20 YEARS AND THAT DUE TO THE TRUTH IN SENTENCING HE WOULD NOT SEE THE PAROLE BOARD UNTIL SERVING AT LEAST 20 YEARS. THE MAXIMUM HE COULD GET WOULD BE LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE. THERE WAS ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT IT WAS VERY CLOSE TO FIRST DEGREE MURDER AND SHOULD BE CHARGED AS SUCH. THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD BE ASKING FOR.

WE FILED INTO THE COURTROOM AND TOOK OUR PLACE IN THE FRONT ROW. EVERYONE ELSE FILLED THE ROW TO THE LEFT OF US. THERE WERE A BEVY OF REPORTERS IN THE SECTION BEHIND US. KELLY SAT WITH US. OVER BY THE WINDOWS IN THE FRONT ROW SAT MR. AND MRS. BOLASKI, KELLIE AND COREY. JOHN LAVOIE WAS SEATED AT THE PROSECUTORS TABLE IN FRONT OF US AND MR. GRIFFIN AND HIS ASSISTANT SAT AT THE DEFENSE TABLE. KYLE WASN'T THERE YET. WE WERE VERY NERVOUS AT THIS POINT. THIS WAS THE DAY WE WOULD FINALLY BE ABLE TO SPEAK. WE WOULD AT LAST BE ABLE TO CONFRONT VINNIE'S KILLER.

KYLE BOLASKI HAD ARRIVED AND WAS ESCORTED INTO THE COURTROOM IN SHACKLES. I STARED AT HIM TO SEE IF HE WOULD LOOK UP. I WANTED HIM TO LOOK AT ME. I WANTED HIM TO SEE ME, TO LOOK INTO MY EYES. BUT HE WOULDN'T LOOK UP AT ALL. HE NEVER EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED HIS PARENTS WHO WERE DIRECTLY BEHIND HIM. HE WAS LED TO THE DEFENSE TABLE WHERE HE WAS SEATED BETWEEN HIS DEFENSE ATTORNEYS. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER JUDGE ZIMMERMAN ENTERED. JOHN LAVOIE ROSE AND ADDRESSED THE COURT. HE SAID WHO WOULD BE SPEAKING FOR VINNIE AND THEN HE CALLED ME AS THE FIRST TO SPEAK.

I ROSE FROM MY SEAT AND AS I WALKED TO TAKE MY SEAT BESIDE JOHN I COULD FEEL MY BODY START TO TREMBLE. THIS MOMENT, THIS ONE POINT IN TIME REPRESENTED THE CULMINATION OF OUR FIGHT FOR JUSTICE. THE END OF OUR 3 1/2 YEAR JOURNEY THROUGH THE VERMONT JUDICIAL SYSTEM. I WAS OVERWHELMED BY MY EMOTIONS. IT WAS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS MOMENT HAD FINALLY COME. IT FELT SURREAL. I SAT DOWN TO THE LEFT OF JOHN AND BEGAN TO READ MY STATEMENT. I THANKED JUDGE ZIMMERMAN FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK. I TOLD HER WE WERE THERE SEEKING JUSTICE FOR OUR SON WHO WAS SILENCED AND CAN'T SPEAK FOR HIMSELF. I THEN READ MY STATEMENT IT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I'VE EVER HAD TO DO. AS I CHOKED BACK THE TEARS I BEGAN. I TRIED HARD TO KEEP MY EMOTIONS IN CONTROL BUT I BROKE DOWN SEVERAL TIMES. THE FOLLOWING IS THE COMPLETE TEXT OF MY STATEMENT...

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"GOOD MORNING YOUR HONOR. ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY ALLOWING US TO SPEAK. WE ARE HERE ASKING FOR JUSTICE FOR OUR SON, VINNIE, WHOSE VOICE WAS SILENCED AND FOR WHOM WE NOW SPEAK.

 

VINNIE LOVED VERMONT. AS CHILDREN I USED TO TAKE HIM AND HIS BROTHERS AND SISTER TO VERMONT ON A FRIEND'S LAND WHERE WE WOULD CAMP OUT UNDER THE STARS. WE WOULD SIT UP ALL NIGHT AROUND THE CAMPFIRE COOKING MARSHMALLOWS. IN THE DAYTIME WE WOULD GO HIKING IN THE WOODS. VINNIE LOVED TO WATCH THE ANIMALS AND CHASE THEM BUT HE WOULD NEVER, EVER HARM ONE. WHEN IT CAME TIME TO LEAVE VINNIE NEVER WANTED TO GO. HE USED TO ASK IF WE COULD MOVE TO VERMONT. HE ALWAYS SAID THAT WHEN HE GREW UP HE WANTED TO MOVE TO VERMONT AND THAT I COULD COME UP AND CAMP OUT ANYTIME I WANTED TO.

 

IN JUNE OF 2008 VINNIE CAME TO VERMONT TO MAKE THAT DREAM POSSIBLE, A NEW START AT LIFE, A NEW BEGINNING. ON AUGUST 17TH, 2008 THAT DREAM ENDED, KYLE BOLASKI MURDERED OUR SON. HE COMMITTED THE WORST SIN THAT COULD EVER BE COMMITTED AGAINST ANOTHER HUMAN BEING AND DID IT IN SUCH A CRUEL, HORRIFIC WAY. AFTER SHOOTING VINNIE IN THE LEGS HE PURSUED VINNIE, RIFLE AT HIS SHOULDER AND IN COLD BLOOD HE SHOT VINNIE IN THE BACK! THEN, IN A MOST REPREHENSIBLE ACT, AS VINNIE LAY HELPLESS, UNABLE TO DEFEND HIMSELF KYLE BEAT HIM UNMERCIFULLY, BRINGING THE RIFLE BUTT DOWN AGAIN AND AGAIN WHILE HIS GANG JOINED IN KICKING AND BEATING VINNIE. THERE IS NO DOUBT HE WANTED VINNIE DEAD.

 

WE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE PURE TERROR VINNIE FELT AS HE WAS BEING PURSUED, KNOWING THAT HE WAS GOING TO DIE. WE CAN ONLY GUESS AT THE ABSOLUTE HORROR VINNIE FELT AS HE SAW KYLE BOLASKI APPROACH HIM WITH THE RIFLE AND BEGIN TO SAVAGELY BEAT HIM. VINNIE WAS A HUMAN BEING. YET KYLE BOLASKI TREATED HIM WORSE THAN AN ANIMAL. VINNIE WAS TORTURED BY KYLE BOLASKI THOUGH HE NEVER EVEN KNEW VINNIE. HE HAD NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH THE INCIDENT AT BLANCHARD'S HOUSE. HE HAD NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WHAT HAPPENED AT JULIE'S HOUSE. YET HE TOOK IT UPON HIMSELF TO BE JUDGE, JURY AND EXECUTIONER!  FOR ONE REASON AND ONE REASON ONLY…HATE!

 

HATRED FOR A MAN FROM BOSTON WHO DARED HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND UP AGAINST A GANG OF COWARDS WHO RULED BY FEAR! IT WAS HATE THAT BROUGHT AN ANGRY MOB TO TERRORIZE AND ASSAULT AN ELDERLY WOMAN AND 2 YOUNG GIRLS ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY WHERE VINNIE, ALONE, STOOD UP TO THEM. IT WAS HATE THAT DROVE THEM TO LURE VINNIE TO MACKENZIE FIELD, AND IT WAS HATE THAT DROVE KYLE TO KILL VINNIE! AND HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO KILL VINNIE. BECAUSE HE REACHED FOR THE ONE RIFLE THAT COULD KILL! IN HIS OWN WORDS HE WAS AN AVID HUNTER AND KNEW HIS WEAPONS. HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING. AND HE DID IT WITH MALICE AND WITHOUT MERCY.

 

ON AUGUST 17TH KYLE MURDERED MY ENTIRE FAMILY. HE DESTROYED MY FAMILY UNIT. WE’VE BEEN FOREVER MARRED BY THIS HORRIBLE CONTEMPTIBLE ACT. MY WIFE AND I, WE LOOK AT OUR CHILDREN DIFFERENTLY NOW. WE TREAT THEM DIFFERENTLY FOR FEAR THAT THAT ONE MOMENT WILL ONCE AGAIN BE OUR LAST INTERACTION WITH OUR CHILD. OUR CHILDREN ACT DIFFERENT TO EACH OTHER SO THAT THEY WILL HAVE NO REGRETS SHOULD ANOTHER CATASTROPHE BEFALL ONE OF THEM. THIS SHOULD NOT EVER HAVE TO BE. A FAMILY SHOULD BE ABLE TO LAUGH, CRY, YELL, BE ANGRY, HAPPY OR SAD WITH EACH OTHER WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE, WITHOUT GUILT. BUT THIS HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM US FOREVER. WE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. OUR TORMENT WILL NEVER END.

 

VINNIE WAS OUR SON AND WE LOVED HIM VERY MUCH. HIS BROTHER’S AND SISTER LOVE AND MISS HIM. HE WAS OUR OLDEST CHILD AND MY NAMESAKE. THE IMPACT OF KYLE’S ACTIONS WILL LAST FOREVER FOR NOT ONLY DID HE TAKE VINNIE FROM US KYLE ALSO DESTROYED VINNIE’S FUTURE LEGACY. NOW THERE WILL BE NO ONE TO CARRY ON VINNIE’S NAME. THERE WILL BE NO MORE LITTLE VINNIE’S. WE WILL NEVER HAVE A GRANDCHILD FROM VINNIE TO LOVE AND SPOIL, OR TO CELEBRATE A CHRISTMAS OR A BIRTHDAY WITH, AS IT IS NOW WITH VINNIE. WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO CELEBRATE ANOTHER CHRISTMAS OR HOLIDAY OR BIRTHDAY WITH VINNIE. HIS BIRTHDAY WAS A TIME OF SPECIAL JOY AS HE SHARED THE SAME BIRTHDAY WITH HIS MOTHER, SEPTEMBER 12TH. NOW THAT SPECIAL TIME FOR HER IS GONE FOREVER. THOUGH WE TRY TO MAKE IT SPECIAL SHE FEELS NO JOY OR REASON TO CELEBRATE. THEY SHARED A SPECIAL BOND BUT THAT BOND DIED WITH VINNIE THAT DAY.

 

NOW WHEN I LOOK IN HER EYES I SEE NOTHING BUT PAIN AND ANGUISH. I WANT SO MUCH TO COMFORT HER, TO TAKE AWAY HER PAIN. BUT I CAN’T. A PART OF US DIED THAT DAY AND CAN NEVER BE BROUGHT BACK OR FIXED. SHE TRIES HARD TO CARRY ON FOR OUR OTHER CHILDREN OF WHOM SHE IS VERY PROUD BUT I CAN SEE HER HEARTACHE, HER DAILY STRUGGLE AS SHE TRIES TO COPE AND IT TEARS ME APART! WE NOW SPEAK TO OUR SON THROUGH 6 FEET OF SOIL AS WE STARE AT HIS PICTURE ON HIS HEADSTONE. SOMETHING NO PARENT SHOULD EVER HAVE TO DO. MY CHILDREN HAVE LOST THEIR OLDER BROTHER. NO LONGER WILL THEY SHARE THE GOOD TIMES, THE ROUGH HOUSING OR PROTECTION THAT VINNIE GAVE TO THEM. VINNIE WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS NOR THEY HIS. CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE EXPERIENCING THIS MUCH PAIN AND DIFFICULTY AT THEIR AGE. THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO TRY TO COPE WITH ANGUISH AND HEARTACHE. THEIRS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A TIME OF GROWTH, OF LIFE. NOT OF MISERY AND ANGUISH. THAT HAS ALL CHANGED NOW BECAUSE OF KYLE BOLASKI!

 

THE EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT THIS HAS HAD ON MY ENTIRE FAMILY HAS BEEN DEVASTATING! WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS THE PAIN AND ANGUISH WE HAVE GONE THROUGH AND WILL CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES. THE FINANCIAL IMPACT HAS BEEN EQUALLY AS DEVASTATING! WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO RECOVER FROM THE IMPACT THIS HAS HAD ON OUR LIVES! AS A FAMILY WE ARE STRONG. WE WILL GO ON, BUT WITH AN EMPTINESS, A VOID THAT WILL NEVER BE FILLED.

 

BESIDES TRYING TO COPE WITH VINNIE’S MURDER WE'VE ALSO HAD TO ENDURE THE TORMENT OF 3 YEARS OF ABUSE AT THE HANDS OF KYLE AND HIS COHORTS. FOR 3 YEARS WE’VE HAD TO ENDURE THE TAUNTS, THE INSULTS AND DEBASEMENT OF OUR SON. WE’VE SAT IN SILENCE AS VINNIE WAS SLANDERED INCESSANTLY BY KYLE AND HIS GROUP. VINNIE WAS CALLED EVERY DIRTY NAME IMAGINABLE. HIS CHARACTER SLAMMED IN PUBLIC AND THE PRESS. NEVER WAS THERE EVER ANY HINT OF REMORSE. THE ABSOLUTE LACK OF REMORSE THAT KYLE BOLASKI HAS SHOWN FOR WHAT HE’S DONE IS INCOMPREHENSIBLE. NEVER IN 3 YEARS HAS HE SHOWN ANY REMORSE FOR HIS TAKING OF A HUMAN LIFE OR FOR THE BRUTAL WAY IN WHICH HE TOOK IT. INSTEAD OF REMORSEFUL KYLE’S BEEN COCKY AND ARROGANT. EVEN AFTER VINNIE’S DEATH KYLE DID EVERYTHING HE COULD TO INSULT AND SLANDER VINNIE. HE DID EVERYTHING HE COULD TO HURT AND DEMORALIZE US. EVEN GOING TO THE EXTREME OF LEAVING A MESSAGE ON OUR WEBSITE TO BRAG ABOUT KILLING VINNIE, MOCKING US AND OUR PAIN.

 

KYLE HAS NEVER TAKEN ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS ACTIONS. HE'S LIED CONSTANTLY TO INVESTIGATORS AND TO THE GRAND JURY. CONSPIRED WITH HIS FRIENDS AND COHORTS TO LIE AND MISLEAD THE INVESTIGATION. HE EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO BLAME THE POLICE FOR WHAT HE DID. HIS ACTIONS AFTER HE WAS ARRESTED SHOW HIS CONTEMPT FOR THE LAW AND FOR HUMAN LIFE. HIS ACTIONS WHILE INCARCERATED SHOW HE CAN’T BE REHABILITATED! WHEN IT’S KYLE’S TURN TO SPEAK HE WILL SAY HE IS SORRY. BUT THOSE WORDS WILL BE HOLLOW. FOR 3 YEARS WE WAITED AND LOOKED FOR ANY SIGN THAT HE WAS SORRY OR REMORSEFUL BUT NONE WAS FORTHCOMING. THIS WAS A VERY BRUTAL AND HEINOUS MURDER. KYLE SHOWED NO MERCY TO VINNIE AND THEREFORE NONE SHOULD BE SHOWN IN RETURN. THE PUNISHMENT SHOULD FIT THE CRIME

 

IT TOOK A GANG OF COWARDS TO BRING VINNIE DOWN. BUT THEY COULD NOT SILENCE HIM. BECAUSE VINNIE HAD SOMETHING THEY COULDN’T UNDERSTAND. SOMETHING THAT KYLE BOLASKI’S GUNS OR BULLETS COULDN’T DESTROY…COURAGE AND PRIDE! RIGHT UP TO THE LAST MOMENT OF HIS LIFE VINNIE WOULD EXEMPLIFY THESE QUALITIES. AS VINNIE LAY ON THAT FIELD MORTALLY WOUNDED, SURROUNDED BY THOSE WHO SOUGHT TO SILENCE HIM, WITH VINNIE’S LAST BREATH OF LIFE HE WOULD UTTER THESE WORDS OF COURAGE AND PRIDE THAT WOULD SYMBOLIZE WHO OUR VINNIE WAS, WHOSE CHARACTER THEY WILL NEVER DESTROY, WHOSE VOICE THEIR HATE COULD NOT SILENCE.  “MY NAME IS VINNIE! I'M FROM BOSTON!" 

VINNIE WOULD SAY THIS TO THE TROOPER WHO WORKED FEVERISHLY TO SAVE HIS LIFE TO LET US KNOW WHERE HE WAS. HE KNEW THE END WAS NEAR AND HE WANTED TO BE WITH HIS FAMILY BUT IT WAS TOO LATE. VINNIE DIED ALONE ON A FIELD A HUNDRED MILES FROM HOME, AWAY FROM HIS FAMILY. AWAY FROM THOSE HE LOVED. HE DIDN'T DESERVE THIS. THIS WILL WEIGH HEAVILY FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS. YOUR HONOR, WE ASK FOR JUSTICE FOR OUR SON AND FOR OUR FAMILY. KYLE BOLASKI SHOULD BE GIVEN THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE ALLOWED BY LAW SO NO OTHER FAMILY WILL EVER HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PAIN AND ANGUISH THAT WE HAVE BEEN MADE TO SUFFER. THANK YOU."

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IT TOOK ME A MOMENT TO COMPOSE MYSELF. I GOT UP AND WENT BACK TO MY SEAT, STILL TREMBLING. JOHN THEN CALLED MY WIFE, RONNIE UP. SHE HESITATED THEN WALKED SLOWLY UP AND TOOK HER SEAT BESIDE JOHN. SHE DIDN'T HAVE A STATEMENT. SHE COULD NEVER BRING HERSELF TO WRITE ABOUT VINNIE'S DEATH. SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO. WHEN SHE SPOKE SHE SPOKE FROM HER HEART, A MOTHER’S HEART THAT WAS TORN APART AUGUST 17TH, 2008. SHE WAS STRAIGHT FORWARD IN HER PLEA. “IF YOU TAKE A LIFE YOU SHOULD DO LIFE!” SHE SAID SHE MISSED VINNIE WITH ALL OF HER HEART AND THAT A CHILD SHOULD NEVER GO BEFORE THE PARENTS. “OUR FAMILY WILL NEVER BE THE SAME!” SHE STATED. RONNIE SAID THAT AT TIMES SHE STILL EXPECTS VINNIE TO WALK THROUGH THE DOOR THOUGH SHE KNOWS THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. SHE TOLD THE JUDGE THAT IF BOLASKI HAD SHOWN JUST ONE BIT OF REMORSE OR REGRET FOR WHAT HE DID THEN SHE WOULD HAVE SHOWN THE SAME BUT HE NEVER ONCE SHOWED ANYTHING AT ALL. SHE SPOKE FOR SEVERAL MORE MINUTES. SHE THEN ASKED THAT KYLE BOLASKI BE SENTENCED TO THE MAXIMUM ALLOWED BY LAW.

THIS WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR HER TO DO. IT TOOK GREAT COURAGE FOR HER TO GET UP THERE AND TALK ABOUT THIS. SHE’S NEVER BEEN ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THIS SO FOR HER TO DO THIS IN OPEN COURT WAS TESTAMENT TO HER RESOLVE TO SEE JUSTICE DONE. SHE WALKED OVER AND SAT BACK DOWN BESIDE ME. AS SHE LOOKED AT ME I SAW THE HURT IN HER FACE BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME I COULD SEE A SENSE OF RELIEF. SHE HAD FINALLY BEEN ABLE TO CONFRONT VINNIE’S KILLER, FINALLY BEEN ABLE TO SAY WHAT SHE FELT. IT WAS IF A HUGE WEIGHT HAD BEEN LIFTED OFF HER SHOULDERS. THOUGH THAT DIDN’T STOP THE PAIN SHE NO LONGER HAD TO PUT UP A SHIELD AGAINST IT. I WAS VERY PROUD OF HER.

JOHN THEN CALLED UP MY BROTHER RANDY. RANDY'S BEEN THERE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. HE HELPED ME PUT TOGETHER THE EVIDENCE OF THE CASE WAS THERE WITH US AT EVERY MEETING  WITH SAND OR THE INVESTIGATORS AND HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE THROUGH EVERYTHING. HE WAS THERE THROUGH EVERY DAY OF THE TRIAL AND HE'S BEEN THERE FOR US FROM THE VERY BEGINNING AND WAS THE ONLY PERSON THAT WAS NOT AN IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER THAT THE PROSECUTION ALLOWED TO SPEAK. HE SPOKE ABOUT ALL OF THE GOOD TIMES THAT HIM AND HIS CHILDREN HAD SHARED WITH VINNIE AND HOW VINNIE HAD CHANGED HIS AND HIS CHILDREN'S LIVES WITH HIS SMILE AND HIS ABILITY TO CAPTURE YOUR HEART. HE TOLD THE COURT OF BOLASKI'S EXPRESSIONS AND LACK OF REMORSE THROUGHOUT THE TRIAL. HIS VOICE BREAKING AS HE SPOKE ABOUT VINNIE. IN ENDING HIS STATEMENT HE ASKED THAT BOLASKI BE SENTENCED TO THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE ALLOWED BY LAW.

MY SON CHRIS WAS THE NEXT TO SPEAK. HE SPOKE ABOUT HIS GOOD TIMES WITH VINNIE AS THEY GREW UP TOGETHER AND HOW MUCH HE MISSES VINNIE. HE ALSO TOLD ABOUT FEELINGS OF GUILT BECAUSE HE HAD  BROUGHT VINNIE TO VERMONT TO HELP HIM FIX UP BROKEN DOWN HOUSES AND TURN THEM INTO BEAUTIFUL HOMES AND THAT'S WHEN VINNIE MET JULIE. CHRIS SAID HE FEELS RESPONSIBLE. HE TOLD OF THE IMPACT THIS HAS HAD ON HIM AND ASKED THE JUDGE FOR THE MAXIMUM. OUR DAUGHTER VANESSA WAS THE LAST TO SPEAK AND TALKED IN LENGTH ABOUT HER LIFE WITH VINNIE AND THE IMPACT THIS HAS HAD ON HER.

 AFTER WE SPOKE, BOLASKI'S FAMILY THEN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. TWO OF HIS AUNT'S SPOKE AND THEN HIS SISTER. SURPRISINGLY, THE ONE PERSON THAT DID NOT SPEAK, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS IN THE COURTROOM, WAS HIS BROTHER COREY!! THEY OBVIOUSLY FELT HIS SPEAKING WOULD HURT MORE THAN HELP. AFTER ALL, THIS WAS KYLE'S BROTHER. WHO GREW UP WITH HIM AND WAS SUPPOSED TO BE VERY CLOSE TO HIM. YET THEY CHOSE NOT TO LET HIM SPEAK! BUT HIS SILENCE SPOKE VOLUMES AS THIS, TO US, WAS AN ADMISSION OF GUILT OF HIS LIES AND INVOLVEMENT.

THOSE THAT DID SPEAK ALL SPOKE OF WHAT A GOOD KID KYLE WAS AND HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS HE WAS GROWING UP. THEY SPOKE OF THE DIFFERENT MOMENTS THAT THEY REMEMBERED FROM WHEN HE WAS A CHILD UNTIL HE GRADUATED COLLEGE. BUT ONE THING THAT STOOD OUT, THAT WAS SO OBVIOUS, WAS NO ONE MENTIONED ANYTHING ABOUT KYLE FROM THE TIME HE GRADUATED COLLEGE UNTIL THIS HAPPENED. NO ONE SAID ANYTHING ABOUT HIS LIFE FROM THAT POINT! CLEARLY THERE WAS NOTHING GOOD TO SAY ABOUT HIM FROM THAT POINT ON.

KYLE'S MOTHER AND FATHER THEN GOT UP TO SPEAK TOGETHER. HIS MOTHER, CLEARLY HURTING VERY MUCH AND VERY DISTRAUGHT. AS SHE SPOKE, HER PAIN AND ANGUISH WERE EVIDENT. SHE SPOKE IN LENGTH OF KYLE THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE AND ALL THE GOOD THINGS HE DID AND HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS. SHE BEGGED THE COURT FOR LENIENCY. HIS FATHER THEN SPOKE BUT IT WAS IN SHARP CONTRAST TO KYLE'S MOTHER. YOU COULD HEAR THE MOTHER'S PAIN IN EACH WORD BUT NOT SO HIS FATHER. AS HIS FATHER READ FROM THE STATEMENT IT WAS IN A STRAIGHT EMOTIONLESS MONOTONE. THERE WAS NO FEELING FROM THE HEART, NO EMOTION. AT LEAST THAT'S HOW WE SAW IT. I'M SURE THAT HE WAS FEELING HURT, HOW COULD YOU NOT? MAYBE THAT'S JUST THE WAY HE IS. HARD TO EXHIBIT EMOTIONS.

THEN THEY DID SOMETHING TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE THAT CAUGHT EVERYONE OFF GUARD, INCLUDING DEFENSE ATTORNEY GRIFFIN AND JOHN LAVOIE. THEY TURNED TO US AND SPOKE DIRECTLY TO US! THEY APOLOGIZED TO US AND SAID HOW SORRY THEY WERE FOR OUR LOSS. I BECAME VERY ANGRY! THEY SHOULD NEVER HAVE DONE THIS. ONE OF THE RULES WE WERE TOLD WAS THAT WE COULD NOT ADDRESS KYLE OR HIS FAMILY DIRECTLY NOR THEY, US. YET THEY TOOK IT UPON THEMSELVES TO VIOLATE THAT SANCTITY. I FELT THIS WAS DISRESPECTFUL TO ME AND MY FAMILY. IN OUR EYES IT WAS A FALSE APOLOGY THAT WAS 3 YEARS TOO LATE AND WITH NO EMOTION OR SINCERITY. OBVIOUSLY ONLY MADE TO TRY TO IMPRESS ON THE JUDGE FOR LENIENCY! A FACT, I'M SURE, WAS NOT LOST ON JUDGE ZIMMERMAN. AFTER THE BREAK JOHN TOLD US ATTORNEY GRIFFIN APOLOGIZED AND SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE GOING TO DO THAT. ALL THIS TIME I WATCHED KYLE FOR ANY SIGN OF REMORSE BUT THERE WAS STILL NONE AT ALL. EVEN WHEN HIS PARENT'S WERE SPEAKING HE SHOWED NO EMOTION AT ALL! JUST STARED DOWN AT THE FLOOR.

AFTER EVERYONE WAS DONE GIVING THEIR IMPACT STATEMENTS IT WAS TIME FOR JOHN TO SPEAK. JOHN, THOUGH SMALL IN STATURE, HAD A VERY DOMINEERING PRESENCE IN THE COURTROOM. WHEN HE SPOKE HE SPOKE WITH CERTAINTY AND CONFIDENCE. HE TOLD OF HOW VINNIE WAS LURED TO THE FIELD WITH ONE PURPOSE, TO HARM VINNIE. HOW KYLE COULD HAVE RUN AWAY TO SAFETY BUT INSTEAD CHOSE TO GET HIS RIFLE AND SHOOT VINNIE. "WHEN I HEAR ABOUT KYLE'S HUNTING," JOHN SAID. "I HAVE TO AGREE WITH MR. TAMBURELLO SR. THAT KYLE WAS HUNTING THAT DAY AND HE WAS HUNTING VINNIE!" JOHN WENT ON, "IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO IMPOSE A FAIR SENTENCE IN A MURDER CASE BECAUSE WE CAN'T KILL KYLE BOLASKI AND WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN IT BUT I THINK IT'S APPROPRIATE THAT IF YOU TAKE A LIFE THEN A LIFE SHOULD BE TAKEN FROM SOCIETY!"

 JOHN SAID KYLE DESERVED LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE TO SEND A MESSAGE THAT 2ND DEGREE MURDER CONVICTIONS WILL BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW. "IF PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS IS TREATED IN THE MOST SEVERE WAY, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION FOR THE COURT," JOHN SAID. "THEY'RE WAITING TO SEE WHAT YOU, YOUR HONOR. WILL DO TODAY." JOHN SPOKE FOR SEVERAL MORE MINUTES THEN HE ASKED THAT KYLE BOLASKI BE SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE FOR KILLING VINNIE.

IT WAS THEN TIME FOR ATTORNEY GRIFFIN TO SPEAK. I DON'T KNOW WHY, WHETHER IT'S HIS MANNER OR WHAT, BUT IT ALWAYS LOOKS LIKE HE'S GRINNING. IT ALWAYS LOOKS LIKE HE'S GOT A SMIRK ACROSS HIS FACE. HE SPOKE FOR JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES. ASKING FOR LENIENCY FOR KYLE. REFLECTING ON JOHN'S REMARK THAT 20 YEARS WAS LENIENT IN THIS CASE GRIFFIN SAID, "FOR SOMEONE TO SUGGEST THAT A 20 YEAR TO LIFE SENTENCE IS LENIENT, DOESN'T GO INTO THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES." HE SAID THAT KYLE DESERVED THE CHANCE TO, AT ONE POINT, RE-ENTER SOCIETY, TO CONTRIBUTE.

JUDGE ZIMMERMAN THEN CALLED A RECESS TO GO OUT AND LOOK AT EVERYTHING BEFORE RENDERING HER DECISION. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 11:20am WHEN SHE CAME BACK INTO THE COURTROOM. BEFORE SHE SPOKE BOLASKI ROSE TO ADDRESS THE COURT. "ULTIMATELY, BOTH FAMILIES HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED BY THE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED," HE SAID. "I AM REMORSEFUL FOR THE LOSS OF VINCENT TAMBURELLO JR. MORE THAN ONE LIFE WAS TAKEN THAT DAY...MY FEELINGS ARE NOT HOLLOW." OBVIOUSLY REFERRING TO MY STATEMENT WHERE I SAID HE WOULD SAY HE WAS SORRY BUT THOSE WORDS WILL BE HOLLOW. HE ASKED JUDGE ZIMMERMAN FOR LENIENCY SAYING HE WAS A GOOD PERSON. THAT HE WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS. WELL, HE DID. HE COMMITTED MURDER!

AS JUDGE ZIMMERMAN ANNOUNCED HER DECISION THE COURTROOM, WHICH WAS FULL TO CAPACITY WITH STANDING ROOM ONLY, WAS COMPLETELY SILENT...

SHE SAID THAT BOLASKI AND HIS FRIENDS WENT TO THE FIELD WITH THE SOLE PURPOSE OF CONFRONTING VINNIE. SHE STATED THAT THE CONFRONTATION "WASN'T AN ACCIDENT!" "I WAS AMAZED, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH, AT THE COUNTLESS EXAMPLES OF POOR JUDGEMENT THAT RESULTED IN AN ESCALATION THAT CULMINATED IN VINNIE'S MURDER," JUDGE ZIMMERMAN SAID. IT STILL ASTOUNDS ME THAT DURING THE COURSE OF TIME THERE WASN'T SOMEONE WHO COULD EXERCISE A MOMENT OF COMMON SENSE AND SAID, 'THIS IS STUPID, LET'S GO HOME.' "BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED." SHE SAID HER DECISION MIGHT NOT MATTER THAT MUCH: "THE DECISION," SHE SAID, "IS UNLIKELY TO BRING CLOSURE OR EASE ANYONE'S PAIN. THE PAIN OF ALL OF YOU IS SO PROFOUND IT'S PALPABLE," ZIMMERMAN SAID. "TWO YOUNG MEN, ONE IS DEAD, AND ONE SITS HERE WITH HIS FUTURE SO SEVERELY COMPROMISED. SO SENSELESS. BOTH BIG BROTHERS, BOTH HAVE FAMILIES, BOTH LOVE THEM, BOTH SUPPORT THEM. BUT VINNIE'S FAMILY IS NEVER GOING TO HAVE HIM AGAIN!"

SHE PRAISED ME AND MY FAMILY FOR THE RESPECT THAT WE SHOWED THE COURT THROUGH OUR LONG ORDEAL AND THE COURAGE THAT WE DISPLAYED. SHE SAID SHE HOPES THAT WE CAN NOW MOVE ON WITH OUR LIVES. WITH THAT SHE PRONOUNCED SENTENCE...

"I HEREBY SENTENCE YOU TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE WITH NO PAROLE UNTIL AFTER THE MINIMUM SENTENCE OF 25 YEARS HAVE BEEN SERVED!"

THEN, IT WAS OVER! KYLE BOLASKI WAS LED OUT OF THE COURTROOM IN CHAINS FOR THE LAST TIME. AT LAST, AFTER OVER 3 YEARS IT WAS FINALLY OVER! IT SEEMED SURREAL. 2 YEARS AGO, BECAUSE OF THE COWARDICE AND CORRUPTION OF ROBERT SAND, A MURDERER WAS FREED! NOW HE IS GOING TO PRISON.  I WONDERED, AS THEY LED BOLASKI OUT OF THE COURTROOM, IF HE THINKS ABOUT THAT. HOW A FAMILY OF NOBODY'S STOOD UP AGAINST A STATE AND ACCOMPLISHED THE IMPOSSIBLE. THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE: LOVE! LOVE FOR YOUR CHILD AND THE DESIRE FOR JUSTICE! WE MADE A PROMISE TO VINNIE AND WE HAVE KEPT OUR PROMISE. I KNOW VINNIE IS SMILING DOWN ON US FROM HEAVEN.

 BUT WE KNOW THIS IS FAR FROM OVER. THERE WILL BE APPEALS AS BOLASKI SEEKS TO USURP THE SYSTEM AND EVERY LEGAL AVENUE THE LAW ALLOWS HIM. BUT NOW, AT LEAST, HE'LL BE DOING IT BEHIND BARS.

SO NOW, THIS CHAPTER OF OUR LIFE IS CLOSED. BUT THE NEXT CHAPTER IS JUST BEGINNING. MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE THAT WAS INVOLVED IN VINNIE'S DEATH IS HELD ACCOUNTABLE...INCLUDING ROBERT SAND!