Ex-NYPD cop Michael Valva put his youngsters by years of hellish abuse — culminating within the 2020 freezing loss of life of his autistic 8-year-old son, prosecutors alleged Wednesday throughout opening statements at his homicide trial.
Little Thomas Valva and his 10-year-old brother Anthony have been bruised, starved and compelled to sleep on canine pads by their dad and his then-fiancée Angela Polina, Suffolk County Assistant District Lawyer Laura Newcombe informed jurors, based on Newsday.
“I'll beat them till they bleed,” Valva allegedly as soon as texted Polina in regards to the boys, Newcombe mentioned. “It's the solely factor that works.”
The brothers, each of whom had special-needs, have been so badly uncared for that officers at their faculties mentioned they might arrive for sophistication in dirty clothes and dig by the rubbish for meals, the prosecutor mentioned.
“They have been noticed at college actually consuming crumbs off the ground,” Newcombe mentioned within the Riverhead courtroom.
Valva, 43, initially claimed his younger son fell and hit his head throughout a 911 name on Jan. 17, 2020. Prosecutors say the boy was pressured to spend the night time locked in an unheated storage on the Central Moriches house the disgraced cop shared along with his fiancée.
Thomas died resulting from excessive hypothermia after spending as much as 16 hours contained in the storage along with his brother, authorities mentioned.
Valva and Polina are each charged with second-degree homicide and endangering the welfare of a kid within the case and are being tried individually.
Prosecutors mentioned the abuse of the boys started proper after the couple moved into the house at 11 Bittersweet Lane in 2017, together with Polina’s three daughters.
In courtroom Wednesday, one in all Valva’s attorneys blamed Polina for Thomas’ loss of life.
Lawyer Anthony La Pinta informed jurors that his consumer, emotionally and financially drained after a expensive divorce, regarded the opposite method to keep his relationship with Polina.
“He tried his greatest to salvage the connection,” La Pina mentioned. “Eleven Bittersweet Lane was changing into extra bitter by the day.”
He mentioned Polina even griped that Valva was “making it too comfy” for his youngsters.
He mentioned Valva supplied the boys with mattresses, blankets, books and a TV set, however claims Polina wouldn't enable them to maintain the objects after they dirty themselves.
“This was not a mindless act of evil,” La Pinta informed jurors. “It's essential to suppose together with your heads and never together with your hearts.”
Valva faces as much as life in jail, if convicted.
Some 36 witnesses are reportedly anticipated to testify. It’s now anticipated that Valva will take the stand in the course of the trial, which may final roughly three weeks.
Extra reporting by Elizabeth Rosner
Post a Comment