By Joyce Kryszak
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-651115.mp3
Buffalo, NY – State Supreme Court Justice Penny Wolfgang has sentenced Varner Harris to serve 30 years to life for the attempted murder of two Buffalo Police officers.
It was nearly one year ago that Harris ran through a Buffalo parking lot and shot down Officer Carl Andolina and his partner Patricia Parete. Both survived. But Parete remains a paraplegic today.
Harris stood solemnly in the courtroom Monday with his head hanging low. Before the sentence was handed down Harris spoke publically about the shooting for the first time.
The year 2037 is the earliest that Harris can be considered for parole. But District Attorney Frank Clark says that he clearly can and should serve longer.
Few people were in the courtroom to hear the conclusion to the year-long case that has gripped the Buffalo Police force, the community and especially the family of Patty Parete. Her friend Millie Ramos spoke after the sentencing about the terrible struggle Parete has and continues to endure. Ramos says, although she and Parete has forgiven Harris, she urged the judge in a letter to keep the dangerous young man off the street. Ramos says he should never be allowed out.
Officials say the sentence arrangement was agreed to in part to spare the officers from having to testify at trial.
In this report from WBFO's Joyce Kryszak, she explores the question of whether the system that let Harris slip through the cracks share the blame. Click the "listen" icon above to hear the story now or use your podcasting software to download it to your computer or iPod.