The brother of a bridegroom killed in a horrific drunken-boating crash in New York Harbor just weeks before his wedding blasted the private-equities honcho who caused the wreck as a judge on Monday gave the man a slap on the wrist.
“We were excited for his wedding, which was scheduled to take place only a few weeks after his death, but that was all turned upside down when he was killed and, instead, we had to plan his funeral,” Joji Puthuvamkunnath tearfully read from a statement at the sentencing of Richard Aquilone in Manhattan Supreme Court.
“My congratulatory speech for his big day turned into his eulogy to a mourning congregation. There isn’t enough I can say today that would even come close to describe what we lost when my brother, Jijo, was killed on July 2, 2010 by the careless and irresponsible actions of Richard Aquilone.”
Anguished family and friends of physical therapist Jijo Puthuvamkunnath, 30, wept in the gallery as Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Jill Konviser sentenced Aquilone, 43, to five years’ probation and 250 hours of community service.
Aquilone was boozing it up aboard his 30-foot boat Reel Impulsive with his wife and three children when he smacked into Puthuvamkunnath’s 17-foot Bayliner so hard that it split in two.
Aquilone had an illegal blood-alcohol level of .08. The groom’s pal was seriously injured in the horrific crash near the Statute of Liberty.
As part of a plea deal, Aquilone copped to vehicular manslaughter, vehicular assault and criminally negligent homicide last year in exchange for the lenient punishment.
As part of a plea deal last year, Aquilone copped to vehicular manslaughter, vehicular assault and criminally negligent homicide. He must complete a boating-safety course and his right to operate a vessel in New York state was revoked.
“I’m sorry for the family’s loss,” said Aquilone’s defense lawyer, Marc Agnifilo. “This was a tragedy and he has to live knowing the pain that he’s caused.”
Aquilone, wearing his hair slicked back, a beige wool coat, metallic tie and Ferragamo loafers, smiled smugly as he left the courthouse. He was silent during the proceeding.