GUILTY MA - Colleen Ritzer, 24, brutally murdered, Danvers, 22 Oct 2013 #2

[jacct]

Bob Ward Fox25Verified account ‏@Bward3 1m1 minute ago Lowy: The def was quiet, polite, no priors. Then he carefully and deliberately prepared to kill his math teacher

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 1m1 minute ago
Lowy now describing day of the murder

Bob Ward Fox25Verified account ‏@Bward3 58s59 seconds ago
Lowy: While Coleen's mother waited for her daughter, #PhilipChism brutally raped and killed her

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 47s47 seconds ago
Jury found through moral certainty that #PhilipChism killed Colleen Ritzer, he says

Bob Ward Fox25Verified account ‏@Bward3 43s43 seconds ago
Lowy: sentence will be imposed without pity or passion

 

[jacct]

Bob Ward Fox25Verified account ‏@Bward3 2m2 minutes ago Lowy: There is no right prison sentence. No math will erase the reality this crime was committed by 14 year old

Ethan Hartley ‏@Ehartley_DH_BC 2m2 minutes ago Salem, MA
Lowy: "There is no 'right' sentence."

allison manningVerified account ‏@allymanning 45s45 seconds ago
Sentence for #PhilipChism on murder: life with possibility of parole after 25 years. Concurrent sentences of 40 years on rape, murder.

 

[Skigirl]

I can see parole eligibility...but not the concurrent sentences. OMG.

 

[jacct]

Bob Ward Fox25Verified account ‏@Bward3 58s59 seconds ago Lowy: #PhilipChism aggravated rape 40 years and a day, robbery 40 yrs/day. Concurrent to murder

Jill Harmacinski ‏@EagleTribJill 1m1 minute ago
#PhilipChism standing for sentence imposition

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 1m1 minute ago
Sentence for murder - life with parole eligibility after 25 years BUT 40 years for each of the rape and robbery counts.

Victoria WarrenVerified account ‏@vwarrenon7 2m2 minutes ago
Judge Lowy sentences #PhilipChism to concurrent sentences, says court constitutionally obligated to parole date no more than 25 yrs

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 2m2 minutes ago
Lowy also gives #PhilipChism a concurrent sentence of 40 years and a day for the rape and armed robbery of Colleen Ritzer.

 

[jacct]

allison manningVerified account ‏@allymanning 2m2 minutes ago #PhilipChism will go to DYS until he is 21, then to MCI-Cedar Junction for remainder of sentence

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 2m2 minutes ago
#PhilipChism gets 857 days credit for time he has already served.

allison manningVerified account ‏@allymanning 1m1 minute ago
#PhilipChism will have parole eligibility for murder after 25 years, but will have 15 additional years to serve on the rape and robbery

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 1m1 minute ago
Mother of #PhilipChism hurries from courtroom.

Christina Hager ‏@HagerWBZ 1m1 minute ago
#PhilipChism will be 54 when he's eligible for parole

 

[jacct]

Julie Manganis ‏@SNJulieManganis 1m1 minute ago Colleen Ritzer's family is still in courtroom

Cathy ‏@courtchatter 1m1 minute ago
#PhilipChism - Reminder: Chism will still stand trial for attack on worker at youth facility.

Bob Ward Fox25Verified account ‏@Bward3 1m1 minute ago
So, it works like this. Bottom line: #PhilipChism must serve 40 years in this case

 

[jacct]

Christine McCarthyVerified account ‏@ChristineMFox25
We will hear from DA & family of #ColleenRitzer in one hour

I don't see a livestream for the press conference yet but will post if I find one.
Twitter link: https://twitter.com/hashtag/philipchism?f=tweets&vertical=default

 

[AmyPond]

I wish they could have been served consecutively instead. Was that even an option though?

 

[Madeleine74]

40 years is a long time. And just because he'll be eligible for parole some day doesn't mean he'll get it. Had he been 17 or older when he committed the crime he may have gotten life in prison.

As a comparison: consider that the Manson family has been incarcerated now for 45 years. Before his death, prosecutor Bugliosi opined he thought they had served long enough. The victims' families obviously don't think so, and none of them are getting out, and each parole hearing ends up in a denial. But 40 years... he'll be an 'old' 54 years old by then.

 

[AmyPond]

It just sucks that her friends and family will have to deal with parole stuff eventually.

 

[MsJosie]

When is the next trial date date, on the attack and attempted murder of the lady worker in the Juvenile Facility ( sorry I do not know exactly wha her title was or what she did)?

Will the same Judge and lawyers represent him and the state? Thanks.

 

[Madeleine74]

The family & friends may never have to deal with parole stuff. He'll in there a long time. He could die before ever reaching the age of 50. And with more charges pending he may be there until at least 60 years old. Most of the friends and family will be deceased by the time he ever comes up for parole (statistically-speaking).

 

[MsJosie]

Remember everyone, he may get parole after so many years for this crime, but he still has another attempted murder and attack trial to go through so time from will be added on to this sentence....and he has to behave and take his medication. All that adds up.

 

[Jinkasaurus]

I think 40 years is fair in this case. A lot can happen in four decades. Four decades ago from now was 1976. Seems like an eternity.

 

[Steleheart]

40 years is a long time. And just because he'll be eligible for parole some day doesn't mean he'll get it. Had he been 17 or older when he committed the crime he may have gotten life in prison.

As a comparison: consider that the Manson family has been incarcerated now for 45 years. Before his death, prosecutor Bugliosi opined he thought they had served long enough. The victims' families obviously don't think so, and none of them are getting out, and each parole hearing ends up in a denial. But 40 years... he'll be an 'old' 54 years old by then.

Yes, true. And also he WAS sentenced to life.

Just to be clear, because the news is not reporting it that way but Philip Chism was sentenced to LIFE IN PRISON today. That sentence includes the possibility of parole after 25 years as well as a concurrent sentence of 40 years for the rape and robbery.

 

[jacct]

Livestream link to press conference, just started. http://www.wcvb.com/news/newscenter-5-breaking-news/26098608

 

[Elainera]

Yes, true. And also he WAS sentenced to life.

Just to be clear, because the news is not reporting it that way but Philip Chism was sentenced to LIFE IN PRISON today. That sentence includes the possibility of parole after 25 years as well as a concurrent sentence of 40 years for the rape and robbery.

Just wondering, why is the sentence for rape and robbery longer than the murder sentence? Shouldn't it be the other way round?

 

[jacct]

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 1m1 minute ago Peggie Ritzer says they are devastated and betrayed by Judge Lowy's sentencing decision for #PhilipChism "Today's sentence is unacceptable."

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 50s50 seconds ago
Peggie Ritzer says everyone but #PhilipChism was sentenced to life without parole for murder.

Laura Crimaldi ‏@lauracrimaldi 1m1 minute ago
Tom Ritzer calls the logic of the SJC decision "flawed."

 

[jacct]

Just wondering, why is the sentence for rape and robbery longer than the murder sentence? Shouldn't it be the other way round?

This is the result of the sentencing guidelines that the family is complaining about. If an offender is under 16 they cannot be sentenced to life without parole. They must be eligible for parole in 25 years. That doesn't mean they will get parole then, but they must have the opportunity.

It is sad that now rape and robbery will get a juvenile 40 years but murder allows them to apply for parole in 25 years.

 

[BUF]

I could see the total devastation on her parents faces when they were leaving court after the sentencing.