Family Members Give Impact Statements In Fatal Fire

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Three years after 100 people died in the Station Nightclub fire in Rhode Island, victims' relatives gave heartbreaking impact statements Monday.

NewsCenter 5's Jack Harper reported that the sentencing hearing for Daniel Biechele is expected to last three days. Biechele was the tour manager for the band Great White who set off the pyrotechnics display that sparked the deadly fire.

"We long to see our son one last time, but were told his remains were placed in what was referred to as a pouch. We were advised not to look -- better to remember Al for what he was," said Eileen DiBonaventura, the mother of Albert DiBonaventura, 18.

"Three years later, we still think he is here some days. Since we could not see him, we cannot accept his death. Tom was ripped out of our lives. We never had a chance to say goodbye, to kiss him one last time or to even touch that face we loved so much," said Andrea Silva, the niece of victim Thomas Medeiros, 40, of Coventry, R.I.

"I looked at him and said, 'Sammy, what would I do without you?' Today I know it is a pain from the very core of my heart. A victim impact statement -- how do you express in words such pain?" said Robert Reardon, the father of Samuel Miceli, 37, of Lisbon, Conn.

"This is not about forgiveness -- make no mistake about that. There is not a shred of forgiveness in my heart, and I suspect there never will be. I miss my son more than I ever could have imagined," said Suzanne Fox, the mother of victim Jeffrey Martin, 33, of Melrose, Mass.

"I have the last card that she sent to me for my birthday. It said, 'I will always be daddy's little girl.' It was three weeks before she died," said Leland Hoisington, the father of Abbie Hoisington, 28, of Cranston, R.I.

"The defendant will be released, eventually. He will get on with his life, while my wife and I mourn the loss of our son. We love and miss him terribly. Your honor, there is nothing more painful in life than to burry your only child," said William Bonardi, the father of victim William Christopher Bonardi, 36, of Lincoln, R.I.

Other family members will have their chance throughout the day to address the judge Tuesday.

The sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors are asking that Biechele be sentenced to 10 years in prison. His attorneys said they hope Biechele will be sentenced to public service.