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Jun 29, 2009 6:39 pm US/Eastern
Monroeville Victim's Mother: We All Miss Demi
John Mullarkey, Victim's Ex-Boyfriend, Convicted Of First Degree Murder
Judge Sentences Mullarkey To Life In Prison
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
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Demi Cuccia was going to be a junior at Gateway High School this year.
KDKA
Nearly two years after a 16-year-old girl from Monroeville was stabbed to death, a jury found the man accused of attacking her guilty.
Prosecutors say John Mullarkey stabbed Demi Cuccia to death in 2007 because he was about to get dumped.
During the trial, the defense suggested that Accutane, the acne drug that Mullarkey had been taking, affected his mental state.
Because Accutane was taken off the market, the defense made a last-minute effort to get the judge to grant a mistrial, but the motion was denied.
The jury was given the case at 12:30 p.m. and reached a verdict by 2 p.m.
They found Mullarkey guilty of first degree murder.
The judge sentenced him to life in prison.
The family of Demi Cuccia left the courtroom in tears, but they were gratified by the work of the prosecution.
"Justice was served today and Mark Tranquilli did an exceptional job," says Gary Cuccia, Demi's father.
"He's a man of integrity and it takes a special man to represent my daughter and he did a great job.
"And I will personally forever be grateful to him as well as my family so I'm just glad to see that justice was served because my daughter was brutally murdered and nobody deserves to die like that," he added.
Demi Cuccia's grandmother, Carole Roberts, read a statement to reporters.
"The family of Demi Brae Cuccia is pleased and thankful that Mr. Tranquilli and his staff have convicted this despicable, evil monster for the horrendous, cruel torture as he murdered my precious granddaughter Demi," she said.
Jody Cuccia, Demi's mother, says her family is still hurting.
"I have been critically wounded as has my family from this horrific tragedy and the painful scars run long and deep," she said.
"And I love you Demi and we all miss Demi and hopefully by hearing this tragic story many lives will be saved," Jody Cuccia added.
For more information on the
Demi Brae Cuccia Memorial Foundation promoting prevention of domestic violence, visit: http:
www.demi-cuccia.virtual-memorials.com.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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