Former NYPD officer Michael Valva was discovered responsible of killing his 8-year-old son on Friday.
Dennis A. Clark; Suffolk County
Disgraced former NYPD officer Michael Valva on Friday was discovered responsible of homicide within the freezing demise of his autistic 8-year-old son, who was locked in a single day in an unheated storage on the household’s Lengthy Island dwelling.
Jurors in Suffolk County deliberated for lower than a day earlier than returning a verdict of responsible on all counts, together with second-degree homicide, at round 6 p.m., based on stories.
The ex-cop’s conviction within the 2020 demise of little Thomas Valva adopted a trial that chronicled years of abuse and neglect the boy was subjected to — together with being starved to the purpose that he ate crumbs off the bottom at his faculty.
Thomas’ principal testified that the varsity was so involved in regards to the emaciated boy, they flooded Baby Protecting Providers hotline with complaints in a determined try to get them assist, as his dad spurned their inquiries.
On January 17, 2020, Thomas died of hypothermia after he was locked within the freezing storage for as much as 16 hours when temperatures plummeted to 19 levels. His brother Anthony, then 10, survived the vicious punishment.
An Emergency employee who fought to save lots of Thomas’ life that day testified that Valva, 43, had “no emotion, no sense of concern,” for his son, whom he instructed responders he discovered unresponsive after hitting his head on a door body.
The previous cop went on trial in September on expenses of second-degree homicide and endangering the welfare of a kid. He faces 25 years to life on the highest cost at his sentencing.
His ex-fiancée, Angela Polina, with whom he lived on the time of Thomas’ demise, has additionally been charged and is about to face trial at a later date.
Valva’s lawyer argued at trial that Polina, 45, was answerable for the deadly abuse and refused to let him present Thomas with a blanket and different facilities previous to his demise.
Suffolk County District Legal professional Raymond Tierney stated his workplace was “happy” with the responsible verdict in opposition to Valva, however famous it could not convey again Thomas, including, “no baby ought to ever should endure such evil acts.”
“This case is heartbreaking, and it has been one of many hardest baby abuse trials for our prosecutors, courtroom personnel and jurors,” Tierney stated in an announcement. “Whereas there may be nothing that we are able to do to convey Thomas again, we're happy with the jury’s choice.”
Valva “subjected his sons to horrific abuse, neglect and cruelty,” the assertion stated. “He'll now pay for slicing quick the lifetime of a younger, harmless, defenseless boy who had a lifetime forward of him.”
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