Op-Ed: A Very Cruel Injustice

From John Murphy

One of the two murderers of 16 year old Paula Bohovesky of Pearl River in 1980, Richard LaBarbera of Orangetown, has been granted parole.We should all be angry. Both killers have never taken responsibility for the very very heinous murder, never expressed remorse, never apologized and always lied about their inhumane actions.

To this Father of Paula's classmate, I am unable to understand why the vicious killers were not sentenced to life without parole, so now at the age of 66, this killer can walk our streets and enjoy many more years of a free life.

How could the Parole Board not understand the added pain to Paula's 87 year old Mother that it is now possible that she might see her beloved child's murderer walk on the very street he killed [and much more] her innocent 16 year old beautiful wondrous child. His parole, in my mind is just another murder, this time, the victim is Paula's Mother.

Was the decision based on a State policy of early release to reduce the prison population and save money ? From all accounts of the facts of his prison behavior, his refusal to to tell the truth or accept blame or simply say "I am sorry" do not justify parole. Not every killer deserves a second chance.

I close by praying that he never returns to Rockland or dare to revisit the place where he stole not only Paula's life, but her Mother's and the children she might have had.