http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20120114/NEWS02/701149927
Published January 14, 2012 in the Rutland Herald
Bolaski gets 25 to life in killing
By Christian Avard
Staff Writer
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The father of a man slain in a ball field in Chester in August 2008 got a chance Friday to address the man convicted in the killing.
Vincent Tamburello Sr. fought back tears as he spoke of his son Vincent Tamburello Jr. in the courtroom at the sentencing hearing for Kyle Bolaski of Chester.
“Vinny was human, but (Bolaski) treated him worse than an animal,” Tamburello Sr. said. “(Our son) stood up to a gang of cowards and Bolaski shot him out of hate.”
Judge Patricia Zimmerman later sentenced Bolaski to serve 25 years to life in prison for the August 2008 shooting death of Tamburello Jr. of Springfield. Zimmerman said she was “amazed” by the “poor judgment” that led to Tamburello Jr.’s death, adding that the confrontation “wasn’t an accident.”
The judge said Bolaski and his friends went to the field to confront Tamburello and she wished that someone had exercised enough common sense on that day to say, “This is stupid. Let’s go home.”
The incident leading to the murder charge was the culmination of a dispute between two groups of friends over allegations of some stolen marijuana.
The parties met at the ball field on Aug. 17, 2008. Tamburello chased Bolaski and several others with a splitting maul, eventually damaging Bolaski’s truck. Bolaski then took out his hunting rifle. He shot Tamburello twice and killed him.
Bolaski’s attorney, Kevin Griffin, argued at trial that his client acted in self-defense. The prosecution disputed that claim, pointing out that Tamburello had been shot in the back.
Griffin pleaded in court Friday for leniency, as did his client’s parents. Kathy and David Bolaski spoke through tears as they told the judge to spare their son from a life in prison. Expressing remorse over Tamburello Jr.’s death, Kathy Bolaski offered “her condolences” while David Bolaski apologized directly.
“I pray for both of our families,” David Bolaski said. “I am sorry for your loss.”
Franklin County Deputy State’s Attorney John Lavoie, the prosecutor in the case, said Kyle Bolaski deserved life without parole to send a message that second-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,” Lavoie said. “They’re waiting to see what you, your honor, will do today.”
His request for a harsh sentence for Bolaski was echoed by Tamburello Jr.’s mother, Ronni Tamburello.
“Our family will never be the same,” Ronni Tamburello told the judge. “If you take a life, you should do a life.”
The sentencing hearing Friday represented the latest step in a case that has featured several twists and turns since the shooting more than three years ago.
In November 2009 a grand jury ruled the shooting was in self-defense and Bolaski should only be tried for aggravated assault. Windsor County State’s Attorney Robert Sand, who had been handling the case as the prosecutor, then left the case.
Lavoie was later appointed to prosecute the case and reinstated the charges related to Tamburello Jr.’s death. A jury convicted Bolaski of second-degree murder on May 12.
This may not be the end of the legal wrangling in the case. Griffin, Bolaski’s attorney, said Friday he may appeal the case to the state Supreme Court.
Tamburello Sr. said after the hearing he accepted the sentence handed down by the judge. He also commended Lavoie for his work in prosecuting Bolaski.
“(Zimmerman) weighed all options and was very fair through this whole process,” Tamburello Sr. said. “I credit a lot to (Lavoie) for taking this case and having the courage to do what he thought was right in obtaining the ultimate outcome of what it is.”
Michelle Ucci, fiancee of Kyle Bolaski, and Bolaski’s siblings Kelley Lucatino and Corey Bolaski, comfort one another as Bolaski’s parents, Kathy and David, give testimony of their son’s character during Kyle Bolaski’s sentencing Friday. Bolaski will serve 25 years to life for the killing of Vincent Tamburello Jr.
Photo: Sarah Priestap / The Valley News
Its about time...Should have got the chair. An eye for an eye!
ReplyDeleteSpringfield's Restorative Justice administrator, Wendi Germain, has petitioned the court for a sentencing review. In lieu of the 25-life sentence, Germain proposes community service. Such service to consist of playing with pets at the animal shelter, mentoring students, and signing a form letter of apology.
ReplyDeleteThis woman is a friggin idiot and needs to take her do gooding ideals elsewhere. I could only hope that she would lose a child to murder or rape and then ask her how she feels about the animal who took that loved ones life.
DeleteWhoa, bring it down a notch. Even "idiots" don't deserve murder wished on their families.
DeleteWendi said no such thing, if you have to make up things to make your point than you don't have a point at all.
DeleteIs she kidding me?? Play with pets at the shelter?? What does the Tamburello family get to play with? Bolaski would be mentoring students? In what class?? Target shooting??
ReplyDeleteHe should be sitting in a cell, with a mural of Tamburello's face on every wall, as his daily reminder of what he did.
It was obvious sarcasm idiot.
Deleteleagalize marijuana.
ReplyDeleteSave a life, it may be one of our own.
Fire Wendi too. / murder is when you have gone to far.
perhaps this guy should do 25 @ the 1/2 way house.
where do you go from here ??
listen to Wendi... write an apology letter. WTF??
Wow! Talk about dumb meets dummer, this is it. Does anyone reading this not understand sarcasm? I didn't write it but since I can read above a fourth grade level I get it!
ReplyDeleteMaybe someone on this blop can look into Wendi under another story line and spare the Bolaski family. I think as a family they are suffering enough and Wendi has nothing to do with this. I do agree that her operation needs to be looked into, we have enough headaches in this town without adding more. I guess this is the problem with being a charming Vermont village!
Robert Sands was removed.
ReplyDeleteWendi needs to keep her nose out of everything. Can you imagine how the victims feel knowing this? Why does she need to get involved with justice served? There is no room for superiorty unless you are the judge.
This sickens me. All this could have been prevented had our police done something about this as well. Yet were only hearing about what there doing now because its budget time. Bolaski defended himself plain and simple. Vinnie was a wacko he shoulda been locked up along time ago. I know if someone is coming at me and my friends and family with an AX I would have shot them too. Now we should throw a pity party for this guy please. He was nuts just like it was broadcasted over MTV how off his rocker his brother Chirs was as well. I applaude Bolaski and anyone else who has the balls to defend themselves against the insane people we have walking around that noone does anything about.
ReplyDeleteLet's leave both these families alone no one won here, sadly lives have been destroyed. One is dead and the other will spend his young adult life in jail. Families torn apart both have to deal with their losses. No winners.
ReplyDelete