Spring Break
Wines' Family, Friends Reflect On Loss At Emotional Hearing
Andrew Porter
Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: News
ROCKVILLE - When Stephen Wines introduced himself at Rockville Superior Court on Wednesday, he said he had come to speak, not as a grieving father who had come to seek vengeance or revenge, but rather as a citizen who desired justice for society.
"We have the opportunity facing us today to send a message that society will no longer tolerate a death followed by a flee, especially when there is alcohol involved," he said.
After an emotional hearing, which ended with Anthony P. Alvino - the driver of the car that struck and killed Wines' daughter Carlee - being sentenced to 37 months in prison. Wines said that although he wasn't 100 percent satisfied, he was able to accept the judge's ruling.
Wines repeatedly thanked the UConn Police, the state attorney's office and the state of Connecticut.
He also expressed his gratitude for the support the Wines family received from UConn students.
"I'd like to thank the students of UConn for opening their arms for Carlee," he said. "Carlee will always be a Husky."
The hearing was an emotional scene, often punctuated by moments where nearly every member of the gallery that had come to support the Wines family was either choking back tears or openly weeping.
"I was supposed to grow old with my best friend," said Jennifer Ladger. "Such a beautiful and precious life was taken from this world … I'm only half the person I was."
Wines said that Ladger was speaking from the heart and that he truly believed Ladger and Carlee would have stayed friends for life, raising children together and staying close.
"They would have grown old together," he said. "Definitely."
Wines added that all three of Carlee's friends who spoke at the hearing, Ladger, Corey Schwitz and Taryn Munolie were truly his daughter's best friends.
"So much joy that used to be in our lives will never come back," said Schwitz, Carlee's boyfriend. "I will always keep Carlee close to me, but it was not meant to be like this."
"We have the opportunity facing us today to send a message that society will no longer tolerate a death followed by a flee, especially when there is alcohol involved," he said.
After an emotional hearing, which ended with Anthony P. Alvino - the driver of the car that struck and killed Wines' daughter Carlee - being sentenced to 37 months in prison. Wines said that although he wasn't 100 percent satisfied, he was able to accept the judge's ruling.
Wines repeatedly thanked the UConn Police, the state attorney's office and the state of Connecticut.
He also expressed his gratitude for the support the Wines family received from UConn students.
"I'd like to thank the students of UConn for opening their arms for Carlee," he said. "Carlee will always be a Husky."
The hearing was an emotional scene, often punctuated by moments where nearly every member of the gallery that had come to support the Wines family was either choking back tears or openly weeping.
"I was supposed to grow old with my best friend," said Jennifer Ladger. "Such a beautiful and precious life was taken from this world … I'm only half the person I was."
Wines said that Ladger was speaking from the heart and that he truly believed Ladger and Carlee would have stayed friends for life, raising children together and staying close.
"They would have grown old together," he said. "Definitely."
Wines added that all three of Carlee's friends who spoke at the hearing, Ladger, Corey Schwitz and Taryn Munolie were truly his daughter's best friends.
"So much joy that used to be in our lives will never come back," said Schwitz, Carlee's boyfriend. "I will always keep Carlee close to me, but it was not meant to be like this."
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