As tragic as the Cicciaro/White story is, I believe John White’s regret (“Home for the Holidays,” Dec. 24).
But I also believe in the jury’s verdict and that if Aaron White were the victim in this story, Daniel Cicciaro Jr. would not have received such kind press or a pardon.
The Cicciaro family should have been notified on this pardon.
Robin Dimaio
Yonkers
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Gov. Paterson’s pardoning of White is egregious and makes me ashamed to be a New Yorker.
The reason this country has laws and regulations is so people like White do not shoot unarmed teenagers, thus taking justice into their own hands.
There was no immediate threat to White’s life. All he had to do was call 911, and the cops in Nassau County, who are some of the best in the world, would have been on the scene immediately and defused the situation.
Edward Schnepf
Ozone Park
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Plaxico Burress shot himself with his own handgun and got a three-year prison sentence, and Michael Vick received a 21-month prison sentence for cruelty to animals.
White shot an unarmed juvenile and only had to serve a five-month jail sentence for manslaughter before being released by Paterson.
Where’s the mercy for this poor child’s family? Paterson should be held accountable to the people of New York and, most of all, the Cicciaro family for this ignorant decision.
Let’s not forget the facts in this case. It’s not about race, it’s about justice being served.
Dan Rica
Kenilworth, NJ
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It’s politicians like Paterson who are leading this country to its destruction.
The power of the pardon has to be removed from all politicians’ hands. Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo, please do not pardon Paterson on his $67,000 ethics fine.
Lawrence Millus
Succasunna
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White, after being convicted of manslaughter, was released by our ethically challenged governor after serving only five months in prison. He was supposed to serve 20 months before he was considered for early release.
You can bet there will not be any street demonstrations or marches over this decision. Equality before the law? Hardly.
David Hammer
The Bronx
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What do we serve jury duty for? Why is the governor given the power of pardoning? We must have a pardoning board working together with the governor to make a decision like this.
It’s a disgrace that Paterson didn’t bother to inform the victim’s family of his decision.
When White was threatened, why didn’t he call the police? Instead, he went out with a gun.
Ed Greenspan
Brooklyn
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Apparently, Paterson thought any prison sentence for White was an injustice and commuted his sentence after only 168 days. By doing so, Paterson spat in the eye of the Suffolk County jury that convicted White of manslaughter.
Notwithstanding threats and racial slurs by the group of teenagers, White’s use of deadly force shows him to be a coward and a killer, and his public thanks to God for justice should offend any fair-minded person.
The jury didn’t see White’s actions as self-defense, but in commuting White’s sentence, Paterson pretends he knows better.
Michael J. Gorman
Whitestone