America's Most Wanted - Ralph Garbarini Capture

Описание: Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Fraser said he could not offer justice to the relatives and survivors of a deadly, random shooting at a Hillcrest dessert cafe.

True justice would mean bringing back Michael Andrew Fineman, who was fatally shot by Ralph Stephen Garbarini, who pleaded guilty to murder for the Dec. 30, 2006 shooting, the judge said.

Fraser acknowledged that was impossible during Garbarini’s sentencing hearing in April 2008.

So in the judge did the next best thing and sentenced him to the maximum punishment of 75 years to life in prison with an additional term of life in prison with the possibility of parole. It will be at least 82 years before Garbarini, a 46-year-old construction worker with a history of paranoid schizophrenia, becomes eligible for parole.

“I have never, ever seen such a senseless, random, unnecessary violent act,” Fraser said. “Most crimes you can find an explanation. You can’t find an explanation for this.”

Fineman, a home-redesign businessman and father of three, had been dining with his wife Thuy and another couple, Anthony and Carole Koveleski, inside the Extraordinary Desserts cafe when he was fatally shot. Koveleski was shot twice, but survived. The wives were not hit.

Before the shooting, Garbarini stared at the couples and after a brief exchange, Fineman talked to an employee, who escorted Garbarini from the restaurant. He returned with a gun minutes later, walked over to the table and shot Fineman, 44, three times in the head.

Garbarini was arrested in Los Angeles in March 2007 after an extensive manhunt.

He pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder June 25 to “make amends,” his lawyer at the time said.

During the sentencing hearing, the survivors told the judge about the devastating emotional impact from that night.

Thuy Fineman described how her children frequently cry for their father and the incredible feeling of loss she deals with.

“Michael was a good man, a wonderful father and a loving husband,” she said. “Our hopes and dreams are all gone.”

Koveleski and his wife described the intense anxiety they now feel in public places – a feeling that medication and therapy have muted, but not cured.

“In time, we are all going to die,” Koveleski told the judge. “We cannot allow murderers like Garbarini to prowl the streets of our cities and towns, trying to shorten our time here.”

Garbarini stared straight ahead throughout the hearing. His attorney, Deputy Public Defender Richard Gates, said his client’s family was “horrified” by his actions and expressed their remorse to the survivors.

In an interview, Gates said his client’s untreated mental illness played a significant role in the murder. The case was delayed twice: Once to make sure Garbarini was competent to stand trial, and after he attempted suicide in jail.

“We’ve created a society where a mentally ill person can get a gun, but not inexpensive treatment,” Gates said.

Karen Krasne, owner of Extraordinary Desserts, said she hopes the sentence will bring some type of closure to Fineman’s widow.

“I’m very happy for her. This has been horrible,” Krasne said. “We just need to heal and move on.”

Origional broadcast 3/24/07