Jailed Shooter in '97 Dobbs Killing Released
Paul Bousche'
Issue date: 10/23/08 Section: News
A Westchester County judge has thrown out the 1997 murder conviction of a former New York City police officer, Richard DiGuglielmo, in a Dobbs Ferry shooting, and ordered DiGuglielmo released from prison.
In a 69-page decision ordering DiGuglielmo freed from prison, Judge Rory J. Bellantoni harshly criticized prosecutors at the Westchester County District Attorney's Office, Former District Attorney Jeanine Pirro, and the Dobbs Ferry Police Department for mishandling information about an eyewitness account to the Oct. 3, 1996, fatal shooting of Charles Campbell.
The Westchester District Attorney's Office will look to appeal Bellantoni's ruling.
Both Dobbs Ferry Police and the District Attorney's office declined to comment due to ongoing investigation and litigation.
However, in a recent press release DiFiore said, "We have already begun the appellate process, and we look forward to arguing this case in a higher court."
Andrew Schapiro, DiGuglielmo's appellate lawyer, has worked over the past nine years making appeal after appeal on DiGiglielmo's behalf, and the work seems to have paid off.
Almost exactly ten years ago, a tragic series of events took place in Dobbs Ferry. The following is how the incident was explained by court testimony.
Allegedly, DiGuglielmo shot and killed Campbell after Campbell got into an argument with the off-duty cop and his father, in the parking lot of the Venice Deli on Ashford Avenue.
Campbell had parked his vehicle in the parking lot and proceeded to walk across the street to a pizza parlor when DiGuglielmo's father put a "no parking" sticker on Campbell's car. Campbell got a baseball bat from the trunk of his car and began hitting the father. DiGuglielmo brandished a gun and proceeded to shoot Campbell.
As a result of a black man being killed by a white police officer, there were heavy racial overtones to the case with protests by supporters of the Campbell family. There is speculation that similar protests may arise once again because of recent developments and the overturned conviction.
In a 69-page decision ordering DiGuglielmo freed from prison, Judge Rory J. Bellantoni harshly criticized prosecutors at the Westchester County District Attorney's Office, Former District Attorney Jeanine Pirro, and the Dobbs Ferry Police Department for mishandling information about an eyewitness account to the Oct. 3, 1996, fatal shooting of Charles Campbell.
The Westchester District Attorney's Office will look to appeal Bellantoni's ruling.
Both Dobbs Ferry Police and the District Attorney's office declined to comment due to ongoing investigation and litigation.
However, in a recent press release DiFiore said, "We have already begun the appellate process, and we look forward to arguing this case in a higher court."
Andrew Schapiro, DiGuglielmo's appellate lawyer, has worked over the past nine years making appeal after appeal on DiGiglielmo's behalf, and the work seems to have paid off.
Almost exactly ten years ago, a tragic series of events took place in Dobbs Ferry. The following is how the incident was explained by court testimony.
Allegedly, DiGuglielmo shot and killed Campbell after Campbell got into an argument with the off-duty cop and his father, in the parking lot of the Venice Deli on Ashford Avenue.
Campbell had parked his vehicle in the parking lot and proceeded to walk across the street to a pizza parlor when DiGuglielmo's father put a "no parking" sticker on Campbell's car. Campbell got a baseball bat from the trunk of his car and began hitting the father. DiGuglielmo brandished a gun and proceeded to shoot Campbell.
As a result of a black man being killed by a white police officer, there were heavy racial overtones to the case with protests by supporters of the Campbell family. There is speculation that similar protests may arise once again because of recent developments and the overturned conviction.
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