Bursts of emotions from Tristyn Bailey’s family filled the courtroom Friday when Aiden Fucci, 16, was sentenced for brutally killing the Tristyn on Mother’s Day in 2021.
Tristyn Bailey's parents hug after Judge R. Lee Smith sentenced their daughter's killer to life in prison.– “Tristyn, I wanted to let you know we are so extremely proud of the person that you were in your time here.” Forrest Bailey read these words as part of a message to his late daughter after the family witnessed the 13-year-old’s killer being sentenced to life in prison.
He opened his address by thanking those who had a part in the case for their time and effort. He thanked the community for their continuous support and God for providing the strength the family needed to get through the ordeal of the sentencing. He also expressed other issues that they had to endure during the past 22 months of court proceedings.“Today is about focusing on the people who helped deliver justice for our community,” Tristyn’s father said. “And I want to keep the focus on that.
“Your apology on the stand really touched us,” he said. “It was the first time anyone in your family had acknowledged it, and we feel for you, as we can tell how much you are hurting.”“With respect to the apology letter from Aiden, from his behavior at court at no point has his actions fell in line with the letter, and I believe it is due to the coaching from the defense with respect to the legal process that takes time,” he said.
“At no point did they have the common decency to give an apology so I think they should reconsider their high ground before they advise anyone else on apologies,” he said.As for Fucci’s mother, Crystal Smith, who’s charged with tampering with evidence in the case, Forrest said the family doesn’t accept her apology either.His message to Fucci’s family was pointed: “I would remind them that he is still here. They can still see him. They can encourage him to change his behavior.
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