Residents crate a makeshift memorial at the location where
the alleged assault of Luis Encalada took place (58 Town Hill Ave).
Photo by ctblogger 03.03.10.
the alleged assault of Luis Encalada took place (58 Town Hill Ave).
Photo by ctblogger 03.03.10.
There was rumblings at the Danbury Superior Court House that an plea deal was about to be reached in the Joe DaSilva manslaughter case...and now it's done.
About 20 minutes ago, DaSilva accepted a plea bargain of negligent homicide (from manslaughter) that has the possibility of sending him to jail for up to 7 years (suspended after 2.5 years).
The deal was done under the umbrella of the Alford doctrine which is the following:
Alford Doctrine: A plea in a criminal case in which the defendant does not admit guilt, but agrees that the state has enough evidence against him or her to get a conviction. Allows the defendant to enter into a plea bargain with the state. If the judge accepts the Alford Plea, a guilty finding is made on the record.
After he accepted the plea, Prosecutor Sharmese Hodge gave a recap of the chain of events that led to DaSilva's conviction, which included lying to the Danbury Police Department. In essence, Hodge's recant is identical to the police warrant affidavit which can be read by clicking here.
Although DaSilva accepted the plea, his legal troubles are far from over as can you bet that there will be a civil lawsuit filed on behalf of family members of Luis Encalada Bueno for his death.
More to come...
On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
