A Brooklyn jury acquitted the man who pushed New York City Police Officer and Cortlandt resident Alain Schaberger over a railing of murder, but on the charge of aggravated manslaughter last week. Schaberger was attempting to handcuff George Villanueva following a domestic violence call when Villanueva .
Schaberger’s fiancé, Shoshone Peguese, has asked Patch to publish her thoughts on the verdict, the man who killed her fiancé and the criminal justice system in the United States. Read her words below:
As I watched the verdict being played out in the courtroom my mind went numb. I flashed back to that horrible day of March 13, 2011 when I walked into the room in Lutheran hospital to see Alain’s Broken, lifeless body lying there. No matter how difficult or painful I had to see him one last time. Alain was my heart, my soul and my best friend. The man who had unselfishly given so much of himself to family, friends, and his job and in the end his reward was death. Life is a strange thing and people can be selfish and cruel. This day I came to know this first hand.
Mr. Villanueva in his arrogance as he displayed in the courtroom and history of abusive behavior, one day will have to answer to a higher authority than judge or jury. This is what gives me solace. I believe his punishment will be far greater and severe than what will be bestowed upon him here now on earth.
I could not bring myself to be in the same room with a person who was responsible for the death of the person I loved. My mother was there on my behalf. She is a strong and proud woman and loved and admired Alain like her own son and vowed she would be present there.
One thing that I am thankful for is to have Alain with me during the final days of his life. He often shared the most intimate details of his feelings and his job as a New York City cop with me. Alain often expressed that he would give so much of himself to others and never got the same treatment in return. This is something that really bothered him. He was nice, quiet, and easy going. He was a really good person and very dedicated.
While everyone has gotten on with their lives, Alain’s memories are still here with me and my son in the mountains of the beautiful and peaceful Cortlandt Manor. I can sometimes look at the white wicker chair on the porch and see Alain sitting there smiling at me. He has gone on to an even better place. I live everyday knowing that his heart was and still is here with us.
Personally I feel that the criminal system is a failure. It allows criminals and repeat offenders to run amuck in our society. The end results are tragedies just like the ones we see here. If a police officer is not safe in our city then who is? Please tell me? They buried Alain and later on that day they buried another officer Geoffrey Breikoff. No matter under what circumstances they died I think both where senseless deaths and did not have to happen. In my heart I cannot only blame Mr. Villanueva for Alain's death Sad to say. The system is simply is terribly flawed. This is what I strongly feel and will never think otherwise.
Shoshone Peguese
Fiancée of Slain Police Officer Alain Schaberger
