A Massachusetts woman was sentenced to life in prison for killing her husband in a jealous rage during a heated argument over his affair with another woman.
Plymouth County Superior Court Judge Diane Freniere sentenced Christine Ricci to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the stabbing death of Firefighter Michael Ricci, 51. After two days of deliberation, a jury convicted Ricci of second-degree murder and one count of assault and battery.
"We were in utter shock and dismay. Our family did not expect to wake up that morning and have our loved one taken away from us so suddenly and in such a horrific way... Shame on you," said the victim’s brother, William Ricci, during a victim impact statement, according to NBC Boston.
On Jan. 28, 2021, around 5 pm, officers responded to the couple’s Marshfield home on Moraine Street after receiving a distress 911 call from their 16-year-old daughter. Upon arrival, first responders found the victim had been stabbed in the heart and at the back of his shoulder. Michael Ricci was rushed to South Shore Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Despite attending therapy sessions to salvage their marriage, Ricci told investigators that her husband had been having manic episodes for three days before a heated argument ensued. Then, the defendant claimed she grabbed a five-inch knife to defend herself and stabbed her husband after he lunged at her.
However, prosecutors claimed there was no evidence to support Ricci’s claim. Instead, they argued the defendant had had a hard time getting over Michael Ricci’s extramarital affair in 2018. As a result, she intentionally assaulted her husband. In addition, Michael Ricci had ended up with a fat lip and bruises in the past, stemming from Ricci’s aggressive assault towards the victim.
In a rebuttal, Ricci’s defense lawyer, Joshua Wood, argued their client also suffered from a mental health issue, which led to the fatal incident.
"We have factual disputes about the context in which this occurred. There were mental health issues on both sides," said Wood, reported The Patriot Ledger.
Michael Ricci served in the U.S. Army and worked as a Boston Firefighter for over two decades.
Freniere sentenced Ricci to an additional six years for the assault and battery charge. The defendant will be eligible for parole after serving 20 years in prison.
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