A Massachusetts man convicted of yelling the “n-word” and mowing down a Black man to death during a 2021 street attack was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison.
Dean Kapsalis, 56, of Hudson, was found by a jury last year on charges of second-degree murder, violation of constitutional rights and other charges in the racially motivated killing of Henry Tapia, 34. Convicted.
According to investigators, Tapia and Kapsalis got into an argument on January 19, 2021 in Belmont, Massachusetts, after Kapsalis failed to use his turn signal.
As Tapia began walking toward his Honda Civic after exchanging words with the other driver, Kapsalis, who is white, called him the “n-word.” He then got into a Dodge Dakota pickup truck and plowed into Tapia.
Tapia was taken to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Kapsalis initially fled the scene of the accident, but turned himself in to police about 30 minutes later.
During the trial in May 2023, Kapsalis unsuccessfully argued that Tapia's death was an accident.
He then unsuccessfully attempted to have his conviction commuted to manslaughter, ultimately delaying sentencing for nearly eight months.
“The murder of Henry Tapia was a senseless tragedy fueled by hatred and anger,” District Attorney Marian Ryan said last year after the conviction. “The fact that some of the last words Henry Tapia heard were horrific racial insults intended to intimidate him because of the color of his skin is unacceptable to us. ”
On Wednesday, Judge David Deakin said the punishment was proportionate to the crime and sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years.
Deaquin also addressed the victim's loved ones who were in the courtroom.
“I am well aware that no amount of sentencing will bring back what they most want, which is Mr. Tapia,” the judge said. “I don't want to do anything else if I can help it.”
When given the opportunity to speak, Kapsalis apologized to Tapia's family and expressed remorse for using the racial slur.
“Such language is shameful and I am extremely ashamed of myself for using such terrible language,” Kapsalis said.
Raul Felipe, Tapia's cousin, told NBC Boston He didn't think Kapsalis' apology sounded sincere.
“But eventually we will be able to forgive him in our hearts,” he added.
The victim's fiancée, Courtney Morton, said their 6-year-old son fears he too will become a victim of hatred someday.
“Because of this man's actions, my son is now serving a life sentence without a father,” Morton said. According to a report from WCVB station.
Tapia's family had hoped the killer would be sentenced to life in prison without parole.
“But we know that there is something more important than that. And that is divine justice, divine justice,” said Tapia's mother, Myosotis Morel.
with post wire
