Letter: Easy parole to blame in hit-run death
Thomas Costa, of Coram, inside the courtroom at Central Islip Criminal Court for arraignment in the fatal hit-and-run crash that killed Karen Benjamin who was jogging in Mount Sinai. (July 21, 2013) Credit: James Carbone
Too often parolees commit serious crimes once they’re free. The tragic hit-and-run death of Karen Benjamin of Coram — after she was hit by a car allegedly driven by a felon on parole — is yet another example of the New York State Division of Parole’s misguided leniency .
The alleged killer was only charged with speeding and leaving the scene of a fatal incident, the latter a class D felony punishable by up to seven years in prison. Such light sentencing for a felony that results in death is unbelievable. I guess politicians have been too busy trying to restrict the capacity of gun magazines rather than remedy such an unjust classification.
David Regina, Nesconset
