, the Massachusetts wife found guilty of murdering her firefighter husband earlier this month, was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday. A jury found 49-year-old Ricci and assault with a dangerous weapon on August 2. She was convicted of fatally stabbing her husband, 51-year-old Michael Ricci, in the heart and the back of his left shoulder after they had gotten into an argument.
Superior Court of Massachusetts Judge Diane Freniere sentenced Christine Ricci to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years for the murder charge and six years for the assault charge. Michael Ricci was a U.S.
Army veteran and a firefighter with the Boston Fire Department for 23 years. "I have considered the life of a beautiful, humble man, a loving father, a veteran of the United States Army, the cook of the house, beloved by his family, a compassionate and kind man who as a Boston firefighter selflessly and courageously dedicated his professional life to helping those in the direst of circumstances," Freniere said prior to handing down her sentence. Christine Ricci taught Zumba classes online and took classes at Quincy College.
Opening statements in the trial began on July 25. Prosecutors said Christine Ricci struggled to forgive her husband after he admitted to having an affair, while defense claimed the state had no evidence to prove she killed her husband. The couple's three children all testified in the case and spoke at the sentencing.
During trial testimony, Sophiya Ricci claimed her father had been an alcoholic and her parents often fought about his drinking, especially when it affected his memory. "Having to face the fact that I will never get the chance to have a simple conversation with him down to him not being there on my graduation or any other milestone I would make is heartbreaking," Sophiya Ricci said at the sentencing. She said she will never forget her mother's actions, but she will forgive her "because she is my mom and I will always love her.
" Angel Ricci also said his father was an alcoholic during the trial. He also recalled a time when Christine Ricci grabbed a kitchen knife and threatened to stab herself. Angel Ricci asked for the minimum sentence for his mother.
"I don't want my mom rotting away in prison. In fact, I don't want her sitting in there at all because that's my mom," he said. Michael Ricci, Jr.
spoke about his last visit with his father, the week before he died, at the trial. Michael Ricci, Jr. said he observed what looked like an old bruise under his father's eye.
He called on the judge to deliver a "fair and just" sentence. "No words on a page cam surmise or even begin to describe the amount of anger, pain, confusion and hurt I've been carrying with me since my father's death," Michael Ricci, Jr. said.
"This whole situation sucked. I never thought to imagine that I would have to be testifying on behalf of my father's death, on the other end of it would be the person I used to call my mom." Christine Ricci decided not to testify during the trial and her legal team rested its case without calling any witnesses, despite initially naming six people on an anticipated witness list.
In closing statements, Wood claimed prosecutors had not proven their case. "Despite the amount of dirt they were allowed to dump on Christine Ricci in this case, they didn't prove she intended to kill him," defense attorney Joshua Wood said. Assistant District Attorney Beth Kusmin said Christine Ricci had a "level of hostility" toward her husband.
"The only way to put an end to the anger, jealousy and rage that consumed her was to put an end to the person who caused that pain," Kusmin said. The jury began deliberations on August 1 and reached a verdict the next day. Christine Ricci was found guilty on all charges.
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