The parents of the teenager killed in a 2004 drunk driving crash in Skaneateles hope the driver will use his new freedom for something positive.
Marc and Marianne Angelillo, who have been active in speaking about the tragedy that killed their son, Matthew, and the dangers of drinking and driving, recalled how the morning after the fatal crash, they had walked down the street to visit with Steven Corsello, their son's good friend.
Corsello, convicted of the 2004 Skaneateles drunk driving crash, was released from state prison last week.
“He was understandably shaken, scared, and hurt,” Marc wrote in an statement reacting to the news last week. “Prior to the accident, he was just Matt's friend, and now he was supposed to be something else. To us, he was still just Matt's friend.”
“I remember telling him, 'You need to make something of your life and you owe that to Matt,' ” Marc continued. “Now that time has come.”
Corsello, now 20, was sentenced in June 2005 to one to three years in prison on convictions of second-degree vehicular manslaughter and second-degree assault. Corsello crashed a Ferrari after driving as fast as 100 mph after a beer party. Both he and Angelillo were 17 at the time.
The state parole board in April 2006 denied Corsello's release, saying it was unlikely he would be able to stay out of trouble.
Corsello was conditionally released to the state parole department on June 28, according to the state Department of Correctional Services.
Marc Angelillo wrote that the idea that the Angelillos have been involved with the legal case against Corsello is a misconception.
“This couldn't have been further from the truth,” Marc wrote. “The case was always between the state of New York and Steven Corsello.”
Marc wrote that he had initially requested a meeting with Onondaga County Court Judge Anthony Aloi several weeks after the accident and that he was told by the assistant district attorney that it was not customary for Aloi to do so.
Marc said that Aloi did allow a meeting in July or August 2004. That meeting was attended by Corsello's lawyer and the assistant district attorney, Marc said.
“I spoke about Matt and Steven, their friendship, and their promising futures,” Marc recalled. “It was a very emotional meeting that lasted for at least 20 minutes. At its conclusion, I made the statement, 'You don't have to send Steven to state prison for me.' ”
“He (Aloi) thanked me and said that decision was ultimately up to him, and that there were other factors to consider. The meeting ended. That was the last conversation I had with the judge until we met again at the sentencing in June 2005.”
Corsello, convicted of the 2004 Skaneateles drunk driving crash, was released from state prison last week.
“He was understandably shaken, scared, and hurt,” Marc wrote in an statement reacting to the news last week. “Prior to the accident, he was just Matt's friend, and now he was supposed to be something else. To us, he was still just Matt's friend.”
“I remember telling him, 'You need to make something of your life and you owe that to Matt,' ” Marc continued. “Now that time has come.”
Corsello, now 20, was sentenced in June 2005 to one to three years in prison on convictions of second-degree vehicular manslaughter and second-degree assault. Corsello crashed a Ferrari after driving as fast as 100 mph after a beer party. Both he and Angelillo were 17 at the time.
The state parole board in April 2006 denied Corsello's release, saying it was unlikely he would be able to stay out of trouble.
Corsello was conditionally released to the state parole department on June 28, according to the state Department of Correctional Services.
Marc Angelillo wrote that the idea that the Angelillos have been involved with the legal case against Corsello is a misconception.
“This couldn't have been further from the truth,” Marc wrote. “The case was always between the state of New York and Steven Corsello.”
Marc wrote that he had initially requested a meeting with Onondaga County Court Judge Anthony Aloi several weeks after the accident and that he was told by the assistant district attorney that it was not customary for Aloi to do so.
Marc said that Aloi did allow a meeting in July or August 2004. That meeting was attended by Corsello's lawyer and the assistant district attorney, Marc said.
“I spoke about Matt and Steven, their friendship, and their promising futures,” Marc recalled. “It was a very emotional meeting that lasted for at least 20 minutes. At its conclusion, I made the statement, 'You don't have to send Steven to state prison for me.' ”
“He (Aloi) thanked me and said that decision was ultimately up to him, and that there were other factors to consider. The meeting ended. That was the last conversation I had with the judge until we met again at the sentencing in June 2005.”
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melinda@neal.us wrote on Jul 6, 2007 9:34 AM: