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Jury Issues Verdict In Oddone Trial: First Degree Manslaughter

Sentencing To Commence In February

By Aaron Boyd | 8 Comments

Anthony Oddone, 26, of Farmingville, was convicted of Manslaughter in the First Degree on Monday, December 14, for the death of Andrew Reister, 40, of Southampton.

Riverhead - The jury has returned in the trial of Anthony Oddone, accused of killing bouncer Andrew Reister in a nightclub in August 2008, finding him guilty on the charge of manslaughter in the first degree.

Sentencing has been scheduled for Tuesday, February 9, 2010.

The conviction is one step below the murder in the second degree charge sought by the prosecuting attorney, Assistant District Attorney (ADA) Denise Merrifield. Manslaughter in the first degree applies to a homicide in which the guilty acted "with intent to cause serious physical injury to another person, [and] causes the death of such person," according to New York State Penal Law. Oddone is facing a sentence of six years to 25 years imprisonment.

On August 7, 2008, Oddone was involved in an altercation with Reister, who at the time was moonlighting as a bouncer at the Southampton Publick House. By accounts, around 1 a.m. Oddone, along with a number of others, was dancing on tables in the taproom when Reister approached to tell them to get down; Oddone refused. Accounts differ slightly from there as to whether Reister pushed Oddone off the table or pulled at him, but it is clear that Reister attempted to forcibly remove Oddone, who fell off the table and onto a bench.

A fight ensued, the result of which left Reister lying unconscious on the floor with Oddone's arm tightly around his neck. The cab Oddone fled in was identified by a 9-1-1 caller and stopped by a Southampton Village Police officer before it reached its destination.

Reister was taken to Southampton Hospital where his condition was stabilized, though he remained unconscious. Reister was transported to Stony Brook Hospital and two days later he was declared brain dead and disconnected from life support.

Comments

Guest (decoflair) from planet earth says:
The jury came to a difficult but proper verdict. What a sad overall situation. The incident was totally avoidable.

Guest (Joe) from Holbrook says:
I'm not a legal expert and I wasn't there, so I have to rely on what the media reported. This is a very sad story for everyone involved. I'm sure Mr. Oddone did not plan on getting in an altercation that night, but he did and killed an innocent man. Nothing can change that and killers need to be punished according to our laws. So, it seems that the verdict was correct. I wish the best for the Reister family -- they will never forget what happened and their lives will never be the same. How sad for them, even Mr. Oddone.

Guest (Lee) from Hampton Bays says:
The jury did what they did according to our justice system. The public was not in the jury deliberation room. I certainly hope the judge takes into account at sentencing, the suffering and loss the Reister family has endured and will continue to endure due to Oddone's crime.

Guest (Matt G) from Westchester says:
Good to see that justice was served. I hope he gets sentence on the high end. I wonder if his little lawyer buddies that financed his defense will give the convicted felon a job when he gets out....

Guest (John) from New York says:
What an absolute waste of time and money. This should have been the original charge at the arraignment. Trying to get a conviction on murder for this case was stupid.

Guest (EUGENE HOLLAND) from FLORIDA says:
The decision of the Jury is nothing more than a good slap on the wrist. Oddone should reside in jail for a very long time ; much longer than the maximum of 25 years and contemplate the damage he has done to so many people. The widdow, children, her mother and father (grandparents) , her sister and her children. These people have had their lives divistated because of the actions of Oddone and he should be sentencded to the maximum sentence without the possibility of parole.

Guest (Debbie) from Southampton says:
This is such a sad story. Mr. Oddone ruined many lives including his own that night. Hopefully the Reister family can find peace. I wish them all a Merry Christmas.

Guest (john) from Huntington says:
someone should choke this piece of garbage OUT