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2-4 Year Sentence in Racially Charged L.I. Killing
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 20, 2008
Modified Mar 20, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 20, 2008
Modified Mar 20, 2008
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A Long Island man raged at the sentence given to his son's killer, John White, saying, "Let's see what happens when Aaron White gets shot! Let's see what the laws are then!" Daniel Cicciaro Sr.'s implied threat prompted police to protect White's house in Miller Place.
White was convicted for fatally shooting teenager Daniel Cicciaro Jr., in the summer of 2006. White, who is black, claimed he felt threatened when he saw Cicciaro and other white teenagers surround his house trying to seek revenge on White's son Aaron over a perceived insult. The teens also allegedly used racial epithets, leading his defense lawyers to describe the scene as a lynch mob. Prosecutors, however, said White could have stayed inside, locked the door, and called the police.
Judge Barbara Kahn said she thought White was a "decent man" when handing down the sentence (White could have faced up to 15 years). She also mentioned Cicciaro Jr.'s friends and the mother of the person who held a party where the kids got drunk, calling them "moral accessories" to the killing, but said ultimately White should not have taken used his gun. Kahn added the sentence is "not intended as a measure of the value of the life of Daniel Cicciaro...Vengeance is not a proper basis for a penal sanction."
White expressed his regret, "I've always remained remorseful about this incident," but the Cicciaros were not satisfied. Daniel Sr. said, "Does this mean as long as you are black and there is a problem at the end of your driveway you can shoot my son in the face?" and allegedly cursed at White and his wife. Joanne Cicciaro said, "I believe John White is a time bomb that went off when he killed my son, This man was waiting ... ready to kill anyone who came to the edge of his property."
White's lawyers called Kahn's sentence brave and plan to appeal - two jurors have expressed unhappiness with the conviction and suggest the judge pressured them for a verdict before the holidays. They are also working on White's $200,000 bail. Earlier this month, Calvin Trillin wrote about his time observing the trial for The New Yorker.
Tagged
daniel cicciaro jr.
john white
long island
manslaughter
miller place
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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