N.Y. policeman sentenced to 30 years for torture of Haitian immigrant
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December
13, 1999
Web
posted at: 12:39 p.m. EST (1739 GMT)
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In this story: Three officers acquitted earlier Volpe interrupts trial to plead guilty
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NEW YORK (CNN) -- A former New York City police officer was sentenced to 30 years in prison Monday for what prosecutors have called one of the worst acts of police brutality in city history. Justin Volpe, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Eugene Nickerson for sodomizing prisoner Abner Louima with a broken broomstick two years ago.
'I hope he can forgive me'
In court papers filed prior to sentencing, prosecutors argued that Volpe's crime -- "a carefully planned humiliation of a man" -- was so heinous he deserved the maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.The defense countered that he deserved leniency because the assault was out of character for Volpe and because he accepted blame.
Volpe has apologized previously, saying: "My actions were wrong. ... I hope he (Louima) can forgive me one day."
The 1997 attack of the black Haitian immigrant by white officers strained relations between police and minorities, who said it reflected widespread abuse.
A multimillion-dollar lawsuit filed on Louima's behalf also alleged that rogue cops were shielded by a "blue wall of silence" -- a code among officers to never turn one another in.
Three officers acquitted earlier
The son of a retired detective, Volpe was working in Brooklyn's 70th Precinct at 4 a.m. August 9, 1997, when officers were sent to disband a rowdy crowd outside a nightclub. During a skirmish, Volpe was sucker-punched in the head.Prosecutors say Louima's cousin struck Volpe. But in the confusion, an enraged Volpe thought his assailant was Louima, a 30-year-old security guard who had cursed at the officers, authorities said.
Once Louima was arrested, Volpe and three other officers -- Charles Schwarz, Thomas Wiese and Thomas Bruder -- took turns beating him in a police car, prosecutors said, while a fifth officer, Sgt. Michael Bellomo, tried to cover up the incident.
Wiese, Bruder and Bellomo were acquitted at trial earlier this year.
At issue in Volpe's sentencing was what happened after the police car
arrived at the 70th Precinct station house. Louima said the driver -- identified
in records as Schwarz -- dragged him by the handcuffs into the precinct
bathroom, followed by Volpe.
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Louima said Schwarz held him down while Volpe rammed the stick up his rectum, causing severe internal injuries.
Volpe interrupts trial to plead guilty
Early in the trial, Volpe's attorney implied Louima's injuries were caused by consensual sex, but Volpe later reversed himself and pleaded guilty after other police officers gave damaging testimony against him.They described how Volpe later waved the stick around and boasted how he had "broke a man down."
Overwhelmed, Volpe interrupted the trial to plead guilty to violating Louima's civil rights by sexually assaulting him. "In the presence of another officer, I sodomized Abner Louima with a stick," Volpe told the judge. "I threatened to kill him if he told anybody."
The jury convicted Schwarz of violating Louima's civil rights; he remains in custody awaiting a possible life sentence.
The wrong man?
Attorneys for Schwarz and Volpe have since said Wiese, not Schwarz, was in the bathroom during the attack.Wiese's attorney strongly denied the allegation and prosecutors insist they accused the right men.
Correspondent Gary Tuchman andThe Associated Press contributed to this report.
RELATED STORIES:
Cop found guilty in Haitian attack says wrong man convicted as his accomplice
August 16, 1999
2 officers plead not guilty to lying in Louima case
June 28, 1999
2 more New York officers indicted in Louima case
June 21, 1999
Louima verdict sparks disappointment, relief, outrage
June 8, 1999
Jury in police torture case begins third of deliberations
June 8, 1999
Defense wraps up closing arguments in Louima case
June 3, 1999
Prosecution concludes arguments in Louima case
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Mistrial denied in police brutality trial
May 27, 1999
RELATED SITES:
Official New York City Web site
• Office of the Mayor of New York City
• New York City Police Department
The Police Complaint Center
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
National Urban League
New York Civil Liberties Union