Weather
Byron Syvinski Found Guilty on Seven Charges in Little Girl's BeatingByron Syvinski assaulted Am-Marie Martin in June of 2011Related Content
ANCHORAGE – Am-Marie Martin will be 9 years old next month and said she’s looking forward to starting 4th grade. The little girl’s skull was fractured last summer when 33-year-old Byron Syviniski punched her multiple times while trying to steal her bike, outside of her home in Midtown Anchorage. After four hours of deliberation, the jury returned Wednesday afternoon with guilty verdicts on all seven counts Syvinski was charged with – including assault and robbery in the first-degree. And they scheduled sentencing for October. Am-Marie’s mother, Andrea Dunwoody, was relieved. "I wanted the first-degree, which is the intent to do harm to somebody, and I'm glad they came back and said he was guilty of that, that's the one thing I was worried about them taking off,” said Dunwoody, outside of the courtroom. Dunwoody said she was happy there were witnesses to testify. “Very appreciative of them being there, and being able to see what I wasn't able to see for her.” Dunwoody said she will likely sue both Syvinski and Providence Hospital - which released Syvinski from its psychiatric ward the day before he beat Am-Marie. Just minutes before Syvinski beat up Am-Marie, he punched Robert Delreal, who lives in the same neighborhood. The jury found Syvinski guilty of 4th-degree assault for that attack. On the final day of Byron Syvinski's trial, Assistant District Attorney Robert Henderson told the jury Syviniski's choice to get high on bath salts is not an excuse for punching then 7-year-old Am-Marie Martin multiple times. “At the moment he is standing over Am-Marie, at the moment he pulls his arm back did he have the intent to hit her? Did he have intent to cause physical injury?” “When he punched Am-Marie, he hit her with such force that it cracked the top of her skull,” said Henderson during his closing argument. The attack left Am-Marie with brain injury, which she is still recovering from. Syvinski's attorney, Krista Maciolek, argued her client should be found guilty of assault in the second degree, and not the more serious charge of assault in the first degree. “It was just simply bad timing on Am-Marie’s part that she was out there by herself,” said Maciolek. In her closing argument Wednesday, Maciolek urged the jury to consider the definition of a dangerous instrument - which was one of the factors playing into the difference between a first or second-degree assault. Maciolek argued that Mr. Syvinski's hands do not constitute a dangerous instrument. “There's no dangerous instrument, there's no weapon, there's nothing more than reckless behavior,” said Maciolek. But state attorney Rob Henderson said a dangerous instrument is anything that can cause death or serious injury. “Frankly ladies and gentlemen, when Syvinski's hands, when applied to Am-Marie, are like using two-by-fours.” |
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
|
You have indicated this comment should be removed.
The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .
Anonymous said on Saturday, Jul 28 at 4:16 PM
And one more thing those who should have. Help syvinski will be held responsible as well..
97840946mother of ammarie said on Saturday, Jul 28 at 4:13 PM
One,the police are not the one who put hands on my child,two he has apast of beating his wife while sober, three he is the one who put drugs in his system and almost killed my child,any thing Elsa?????his guilty and the children of anchorage ate one loser safer n can play outside with out being afrid.....
97840926Anonymous2 said on Thursday, Jul 26 at 12:40 PM
Common signs and symptoms of Graves' disease include: Anxiety Irritability Difficulty sleeping Fatigue A rapid or irregular heartbeat A fine tremor of your hands or fingers An increase in perspiration or warm, moist skin Sensitivity to heat Weight loss, despite normal eating habits Enlargement of your thyroid gland (goiter) Change in menstrual cycles Erectile dysfunction or reduced libido Frequent bowel movements or diarrhea Bulging eyes (Graves' ophthalmopathy) Thick, red skin usually on the shins or tops of the feet (Graves' dermopathy) Some people still have difficulties after treatments of graves (hyperthyroidism)
97621996Anonymous said on Thursday, Jul 26 at 11:15 AM
now its time to bring APD on trial.... had they responded to Syvinski's initial calls to them for help, this could have been avoided...
97612391JImiq Austin said on Thursday, Jul 26 at 10:59 AM
When did bath salts come into play?
97610936TedtheBear said on Wednesday, Jul 25 at 5:24 PM
Correctional officers!! Rejoice...job security ahead for many years as Mr. Syvinski will be rejoining you. This was no surprise. This should give the mental health staff at ACC-West plenty of time to work on Mr. Syvinski!!!
97536886Add a comment
Most Popular