| Kiss murder conviction earns Zapata 60 years By Daniel Tepfer CT. Post - Reporter Saturday, May 12, 2006 CONNPOST.com FIRST- This story first broke online Friday at 12:54 p.m. "He took my son's life and now I've taken his." Eva Kiss, Mother of murdered man Zoltan Kiss BRIDGEPORT - For five years Eva Kiss crusaded to bring her son's killer to justice. On Friday, the Toronto woman saw her efforts bear fruit as she sat stoically in Superior Court as her son's killer, Miguel Zapata, was given 60 years in prison. "He took my son's life and now I've taken his," she said later. Zapata, 22, of Bridgeport, was convicted of fatally shooting 24-year-old Zoltan Kiss during a robbery attempt on Sept. 28, 2001. He gazed at the courtroom ceiling as he was sentenced by Judge Lawrence Hauser. "I'm not a bad person, I'm not an animal and I shouldn't be caged like one," he told the judge. But Hauser disagreed: "It was a cold-blooded execution that took the life of Zoltan Kiss, you emptied your semiautomatic into his defenseless body." On March 30, a jury of eight men and four women found Zapata guilty of Murder,Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Possession of a Pistol Without a Permit. Senior Assistant State's Attorney C. Robert Satti urged the judge to impose the maximum penalty of 95 years in prison. "He is a young man who led a life of violence, a life of drug dealing, who felt he was going to get away with it," the prosecutor said. "He doesn't deserve to be on the streets for the rest of his life." Zapata's lawyer, Francis O'Reilly, said his client continues to maintain his innocence and will appeal the conviction. Kiss' body was found slumperd in a car on Pembroke Street in the early morning. He had been shot at least 15 times. Police said Kiss had been visiting his girlfriend in Bridgeport and had gone out to buy the drug ecstasy. But no witnesses immediately came forward and the case remained unsolved for five years. Eva Kiss worked tirelessly to fiind hers son's killer and on each anniversary of his death would put up posters and knock on doors in the East Side neighborhood trying to persuade witnesses to come forward. Her quest was joined by Bridgeport Police Detective Heitor Texeira, of the then newly formed Cold Case Unit. Eventually, Zapata's girlfriend and another woman told police that Zapata and Orema Taft of Bridgeport had killed Kiss. But police said their testimony came at a price. Zapata threatened both as they took the stand during his trial. One state witness who told police Zapata confessed to killing Kiss recanted on the witness stand. *** there are two more trials left to see through. Two people responsible for the Murder of my child: Orema Taft and Luisa Bermudez.*** May your lives be taken from the both of you, as you have taken my Son's. A world of thankyou's and gratitude, to those who stood by us, fought beside us, and saw this case through. You are all in our hearts - Forever. |
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| This is for you - Zapata, from my family! |
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